Story perspectives

Governor Healey Demands End to Deportation Flights at Hanscom

12/17/2025

Summary

Story summary

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey urged federal immigration authorities to stop using Hanscom Field for deportation flights.
In a letter, she criticized ICE for using private aircraft to remove detainees without due process.
Healey noted many detainees in Massachusetts have no criminal charges.
Advocates say these practices violate due process by separating detainees from legal support.
Massport stated it cannot prevent the flights because it operates federal operations at the airport.

History

Historical Context

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, abolished discriminatory national origin quotas, significantly altering U.S. immigration patterns. By the 1970s, over 1 million immigrants arrived annually, primarily from Asia and Latin America. Governor Maura Healey's recent criticism of ICE's deportation practices underscores ongoing challenges regarding immigrant rights and due process in the U.S. legal system.

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Story summary

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey urged federal immigration authorities to stop using Hanscom Field for deportation flights.
In a letter, she criticized ICE for using private aircraft to remove detainees without due process.
Healey noted many detainees in Massachusetts have no criminal charges.
Advocates say these practices violate due process by separating detainees from legal support.
Massport stated it cannot prevent the flights because it operates federal operations at the airport.

1 / 2