Faith Leaders Slam Avelo Airlines as Deportation Flights Commence

More than a dozen religious leaders from various parts of Connecticut gathered at Tweed New Haven Airport on Monday night to demonstrate against Avelo Airlines' initial deportation flight, which was moving immigrants from Arizona to El Salvador.

The religious leaders, hailing from different belief systems, addressed a gathering of individuals holding placards and shouting "Disgrace on Avelo!"

Josh Williams, who leads the Elm City Vineyard Church in New Haven, queried how many people present had been on an Avelo-chartered flight. Several individuals raised their hands. He added that he too had traveled with this airline.

“I’ll explain why I did it… because it was inexpensive, simple, and hassle-free,” stated Williams. “It turns out that things that are inexpensive, simple, and effortless aren’t necessarily good or correct.”

This is not the first protest at Tweed Airport against Avelo Airlines. Early last month, about 50 people gathered Outside of Tweed, people protested against the firm's choice to collaborate with the state Department of Homeland Security for arranging deportation flights.

A second protest Occurred at Tweed on April 17, where U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut urged Avelo to "take the correct action" and terminate their agreement with the federal government. online petition There are almost 37,800 signatures supporting the call to boycott Avelo.

Bishop John Selders from Amistad United Church of Christ in Hartford criticized that these deportation proceedings lacked "the due process of law."

When systems falter, we possess both the ethical authority and the duty fueled by faith to raise our voices in protest and serve as witnesses," stated Selders. "It is imperative that we act as witnesses against choices driven by immorality and spiritual decay, which prioritize wealth and profit above human beings and their well-being.

Courtney Goff, who serves as the communications manager for Avelo, stated in an emailed response to The Connecticut Mirror that their primary focus during Monday’s protest was ensuring the safety of all involved.

"Although we acknowledge the individual's right to peaceful assembly, Avelo’s primary focus will remain ensuring the security and efficiency of our operations," Goff stated.

The religious figures in attendance on Monday frequently cited passages from the Bible that emphasize the responsibility to welcome outsiders entering a foreign country and to show love for one's neighbors.

Scripture may not address artificial intelligence or trade tariffs directly, but it provides clear guidance on how we should treat immigrants," Pastor Jamie Michaels from the First and Summerfield United Methodist Church in New Haven explained to CT Mirror. "The Book of Leviticus instructs us to regard immigrants as equals since we have experienced life as strangers ourselves.

Helena Martin, a doctoral candidate at Yale University who concurrently serves as an Episcopal priest, expressed her belief that it was crucial to reveal to individuals the genuine essence of being Christian.

"It is indeed a testament to one’s faith as a Christian to support fair legal proceedings and to look after our fellow humans. Embracing Christianity should not involve breaking up families or expelling individuals without considering their humanity," she stated to CT Mirror.

Rabbi Herbert Brockman from Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden remembered feeling proud when he, as a child of immigrants, recited the Pledge of Allegiance. He mentioned that his parents had faced hardship including poverty and violence prior to arriving in the United States. Rabbi Brockman highlighted that the conclusion of the pledge represented a promise to uphold justice, which he linked back to the teachings of the Old Testament prophets.

Margarita, an immigrant from Ecuador who chose not to disclose her surname, also addressed those gathered at the rally. Through an interpreter, she shared with the audience that her spouse went for what was supposed to be a regular immigration review in Hartford about two months back and ended up being held captive. Just four days prior, he was sent away and returned to Ecuador.

Margarita sought assistance so that both she and her 9-year-old son could also go back to Ecuador. The organization Unidad Latina en Acción has established this support system. GoFundMe page To assist in raising funds for their comeback.

Margarita informed CT Mirror in Spanish that she and her spouse moved to the U.S. with hopes for their child to get an education and a superior quality of life. However, she mentioned that she doesn’t have employment at present, and both she and her son have been staying at a church. She added that her son loves attending school.

“She mentioned, 'He doesn’t wish to go, but he expressed that he misses his father.'"

Avelo's agreement with DHS has spurred state officials into action as well. In April, the legislature’s Judiciary Committee approved an expansion of a bill aimed at setting rules for how state and local law enforcement agencies interact—or do not—with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The updated provisions include prohibiting certain businesses from collaborating with federal immigration authorities among those listed under restricted entities.

The proposed legislation includes a clause stipulating that "any principal or key staff member" associated with a company seeking to secure a contract with a state agency must agree "not to collaborate with any federal immigration authorities or participate in contracts related to the detention, holding, or transport of individuals safeguarded under the state’s Trust Act."

If the company declines, the state should then direct the contract to either "the next highest-ranked proposer or the next lowest responsible qualified bidder" or proceed with seeking new bids.

At the Judiciary Committee session held in April, Representative Steve Stafstrom, who serves as the co-chair of the committee from Bridgeport under the Democratic Party, pointed out during the gathering that Avelo refrains from paying the state’s aviation fuel tax in Connecticut.

On April 8, Attorney General William Tong dispatched a letter To Avelo Airlines CEO Andrew Levy questioning the company’s stance on deportations and conveying "significant dissatisfaction" over the firm's agreement with the Department of Homeland Security.

Levy responded a week later, saying that there seemed to be a “fundamental misunderstanding how the federal government contracts the flights that are the subject of your [Tong’s] letter.” He suggested Tong submits a request under the Freedom of Information Act to acquire the contract between Avelo Airlines and the Department of Homeland Security.