A data analysis by the Guardian reports that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) flights used for immigration enforcement are producing very large amounts of carbon emissions. The report says Trump’s mass deportation effort coincides with a major rise in such flights, with the number of immigration-related flights increasing by at least 80% year over year. The Guardian estimates ICE air operations generate about 335,876 metric tonnes of carbon emissions in 2025, which it says is up 88% compared with the prior year. The analysis also indicates that emissions are continuing to rise into 2026: the first four months of 2026 show ICE is on track to contribute even more carbon emissions during the year.
The reporting links the emissions primarily to the use of flights to move and deport people, including transporting migrants to detention facilities far from their home locations and deporting them to other countries. The outlets provide specific estimates for 2025 and an early 2026 trajectory, while describing the broader context of increased enforcement flights associated with the deportation campaign.
