Deportation flights in the United States have surged to unprecedented levels, with July 2025 recording 1,214 flights—the highest monthly total since 2020. This sharp rise reflects a broader trend, with deportations increasing 41% between January and July compared to last year, largely fueled by shifts in immigration policy under President Donald Trump’s second term.

Most flights are bound for Mexico and Central America, though some head to detention centers or even military destinations like Guantánamo Bay. Major airlines—including GlobalX, Eastern Air Express, and Avelo Airlines—are operating many of these flights.

But advocates tracking these deportations say their work is getting harder. Airlines have begun using fake call signs and blocking tail numbers, effectively concealing flight activity. Groups like Witness at the Border and La Resistencia in Seattle—who monitored over 60 deportation flights this year—warn that these tactics leave immigrant families in the dark about their loved ones’ whereabouts.

To counter this, new initiatives such as ICE Flight Monitor, run by Human Rights First, are using open-source data to restore some transparency. Still, advocates say the lack of clarity is devastating for immigrant communities who often rely on these trackers when government agencies refuse to share information.

The combination of record deportations and intentional flight obfuscation underscores growing concerns about transparency, accountability, and the human toll of U.S. immigration enforcement.