Deportation-related flights out of Los Angeles have surged dramatically in the last month, more than doubling amid a wave of immigration raids carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Since the raids began on June 6, primarily targeting the Fashion District and other areas, 330 people have been arrested as of June 11, according to the White House. Many of those detained were flown out of the area, although ICE has not released specifics about the individuals or their destinations.
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ICE spokespersons declined to comment on upcoming flights, citing security concerns. However, the agency confirmed that ICE Air Operations, based in Mesa, Arizona, oversees both commercial airline transfers and chartered deportation flights.
Flight tracking by immigration watchdog Tom Cartwright of Witness at the Border reveals that nearly 70% of ICE-related flights from the L.A. area since early June have departed from Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, located near the Adelanto ICE Processing Center. Although it’s a public-use airport, local officials say they can’t confirm ICE operations due to a lack of tracked flight specifics.
Other departure points have included Hollywood Burbank Airport and Meadows Field in Bakersfield.
Cartwright’s analysis, based on publicly available flight data, shows that a quarter of the flights went to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, while another 20% flew to El Paso, where some detainees from Los Angeles are reportedly being held, according to the Mexican Consulate.
ICE Air’s charter planes often make multiple stops in one day, within both the U.S. and international locations. However, it’s not possible to track the full passenger journey through public flight data alone.
From January through May 2025, ICE has logged 685 deportation flights to over 30 countries, keeping pace with figures from the same period last year. Primary destinations include Central American countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, as well as other international locations for what ICE calls “special high-risk missions.”
Flights from Victorville have reportedly made stops in Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Harlingen, Texas, and international drop-offs include San Juan (Puerto Rico), San Pedro Sula (Honduras), Tapachula (Mexico), Guatemala City, and several cities in the Dominican Republic.
As the federal crackdown continues, immigration advocates warn of growing fear and disruption in immigrant communities throughout Southern California.
