End The Use of Chains on I.C.E. Flights
Airline Pilots Association President, Captain Jason Abrosia and Federal Aviation Administration , Flight Standards District Offices, Manager Natalie Bosley
Southeast Seattle Indivisible is asking for your signature on this petition to the Pilots Association. One simple act with a significant outcome.
Every week (100 plus) people are transported in chains on ICE flights in and out of King Co airport. In addition to being ripped away from their families, ICE treats them as human cargo by putting them in chains. They are shackled at their ankles, waist and wrists and denied the ability to save their own lives if there are problems with the flight.
This practice is a violation of existing FAA flight safety regulations. Pilots are the only ones designated to authorize restraints on passengers. Pilots must uphold FAA safety regulations. The ferocity and chaos of the current regime is designed to create fear and resignation. We do not have the luxury of resignation.
We cannot allow the depravity of this regime to be normalized. This is the time to stand up and speak out.
Power concedes nothing without a demand (Fredrick Douglas).
#Demand that Pilots consistently enforce application of FAA flight safety regulations on all fights, including ICE flights.
#Demand an end to the transport of people in chains on ICE flights.
Petition by
Sponsored by
To:
Airline Pilots Association President, Captain Jason Abrosia and Federal Aviation Administration , Flight Standards District Offices, Manager Natalie Bosley
From:
[Your Name]
END THE PRACTICE OF TRANSPORTING PEOPLE IN CHAINS ON ICE CHARTER FLIGHTS
It has been widely documented that the majority of the people being transported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have no criminal history (Deportationdata.org, One Year of Immigration
Enforcement …. 4.7.26, Blair and Hausman).
Yet every person being flown in and out of King County International Airport (KCIA) on ICE charter (relocation and deportation) flights, is in chains, shackled at the wrist, ankles and waist.
“The ongoing ICE practice of shackling passengers is the
largest transport of people in chains since the end of slavery” (Stanley Shikuma, ICE flight Observation Team Volunteer).
The prohibition on chains is required for the obvious risk to passengers. In the event of an emergency people in shackles cannot take action to save their own lives.
The practice of transporting people in chains violates both ICE and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight safety regulations. The FAA must bring sanctions on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the pilots flying ICE flights for these ongoing violations
until FAA safety regulations are applied consistently across all air transport.
FAA regulations govern the safety practices for all air transport in the U.S. FAA regulations (Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 49.B chapter XII section 1544.221) state that restraints on passengers must only be used as a last resort. ICE procedural manuals (ICE Air Operations Handbook sections 1, 3 and
5, and policy #11155.1) reference these same FAA regulations.
Structures are in place for flight safety and security. All Flight Attendants are required to train for deescalation to maintain flight safety. ICE sets a minimum standard of 13 guards for small aircraft charter flights and 26 for larger aircraft (approximately 2 passengers per 1 guard on small charter planes) in their contracts with charter flight companies. Per FAA regulations, should a passenger act violently (only) the pilot can make the determination to use restraints.
Pilots are licensed and highly regulated to ensure the safety of all passengers on U.S. based flights. Under US Code 49, subsection 44709; pilots can lose their license for violation of FAA regulations. Pilots must refuse to fly any plane where passengers are shackled in violation of FAA air safety regulations, or risk losing their license.
We the undersigned demand an end to the ICE practice of transporting passengers in chains in violation of air safety regulations.
We call on flight Captains to ground ICE flights that do not follow FAA regulations.
Transporting passengers in chains when they have demonstrated no physical violence is a violent ICE tactics, intended to terrorize and dehumanize people. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has said he wants “a gentler touch”.
We demand DHS amend all ICE charter flight contracts to state explicitly that chains will not be used as a default practice.
We demand that the FAA bring sanctions on DHS and ICE every time Flight Safety Regulations are ignored.
All pilots on ICE charter flights must uphold existing safety regulations or be sanctioned.
If no action is taken by Pilots and the FAA to enforce air safety regulations on ICE flight in and out of King County airport, we call on our Legislators and Prosecutors to use their full legal and regulatory powers to uphold the Human, Civil and Constitutional rights of people against cruel and unusual punishment by requiring the consistent application of FAA safety regulations across all air transportation.
We demand an end to the ICE practice of transporting people in chains.