February 5, 2026
ICE uses Trump donor's private jet to deport Palestinians to West Bank
Palestinian deportees shackled on Trump donor's luxury jet reveal immigration enforcement cronyism
🛂Immigration🏛️Government🌍Foreign Policy🔐Ethics
ICE chartered Gil Dezers Gulfstream IV jet, tail number N877GD, for two deportation flights on January 20 and February 1, 2026, carrying Palestinian men from ICEs Phoenix Processing Center to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
The aircraft made three refueling stops during each 15-hour journey: first at New Jerseys Teterboro Airport, then at Irelands Shannon Airport, and finally at Bulgarias Sofia Airport before reaching Israel.
Dezer Development has partnered with Trump on six real estate projects including Trump Grande Ocean Resort and Trump Towers Sunny Isles Beach, with projects totaling over $2 billion in development value.
Maher Awad, 24, who lived in the United States for 23 years after arriving as a one-year-old, was among those deported and told reporters he was removed despite having no criminal record and pending asylum applications.
The deportees were handed over to Israeli Defense Forces soldiers at the Allenby Bridge crossing and released at military checkpoints in the occupied West Bank without legal documentation or family support.
Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin called the use of Shannon Airport for deportations to occupied territory deeply concerning and promised a parliamentary review of airport policies.
ICE paid approximately $120,000 per flight for the private jet charter, according to government contracting records obtained through FOIA requests, totaling $240,000 for the two deportation operations.
🛂Immigration🏛️Government🌍Foreign Policy🔐Ethics
People, bills, and sources
Gil Dezer
President of Dezer Development
Maher Awad
Palestinian deportee
Micheál Martin
Irish Foreign Minister
Patrick J. Leehy
ICE Phoenix Field Office Director
Jennifer Gaines
ICE Air Operations Branch Chief
Alon Bar-David
Israeli Defense Forces checkpoint commander
What you can do
1
civic action
Contact your congressional representatives about oversight of private contractor use in immigration enforcement
Congress has authority to investigate ICE contracting practices and can hold hearings on cronyism in government contracts
My name is [NAME], I am calling from [CITY, STATE] to request oversight hearings on ICEs use of private contractors for deportation flights, particularly the $240,000 paid to Gil Dezers company for flights to occupied territory. I want to know about the contracting process and whether political connections influenced the award.
2
transparency
File FOIA requests for ICE deportation flight contracts and decision-making documentation
Freedom of Information Act requests can reveal how contractors are selected and what criteria are used for deportation operations
I am requesting under FOIA all contracts, communications, and decision-making documents related to ICE deportation flights using private aircraft between January 1 and February 28, 2026, specifically any contracts with Dezer Development or Gil Dezer.
3
legal support
Support legal aid organizations representing immigrants in deportation proceedings
Legal representation can make the difference between lawful deportation and due process violations
I want to support your work providing legal representation to immigrants facing deportation, particularly those affected by expedited removal procedures and deportation to occupied territories.