Ireland urged to ban ICE flights from Shannon Airport

Ireland urged to ban ICE flights from Shannon Airport

Human rights campaigners have called on the Irish government to ban ICE deportation flights from refuelling at Shannon Airport.

An investigation by The Guardian last week revealed that a private jet owned by a billionaire property developer who funded Trump’s election campaign has been used to deport Palestinians to the West Bank.

Twice this year, Gil Dezer’s Gulfstream jet has stopped off at Shannon Airport in order to refuel while transporting Palestinians to Tel Aviv — some now separated from partners and young children in the US.

Amnesty International Ireland says it intends to the write to the Irish government in relation to the flights.

“We are deeply troubled at these reports of ICE deportation flights refuelling at Shannon, including to states of which deportees are not even citizens,” executive director Stephen Bowen said yesterday.

“The US Trump administration’s cruel and inhumane mass deportation campaign must be denied any form of facilitation by Ireland to the degree that is legally possible.

“Our government must do everything it can to refuse to allow such stopovers without first assessing if any individuals on board face a real risk of serious harm if transferred.

“Whilst we understand the intricacies of aviation law, it is wholly unbecoming for states to hide behind these when such cruelty and rage is being deployed to weaponise immigration control.

“Ireland still has legal obligations under the international human rights treaties it has ratified.

“There can be no doubt that serious human rights violations are taking place during ICE deportations, with many detainees denied legal due process before being deported.

“We are currently looking into this very worrying matter and will be writing to government soon.

“However, the government should already be looking at all possible ways to stop Ireland being a link in a chain of suffering, fear, and systemic abuse.”

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