WASHINGTON – On April 1, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), working with the U.S. Department of State, brought home a total of 69 U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) on the return leg of a removal flight via ICE Air Operations. U.S. citizens and LPRs occupied the Space Available (“Space A”) seats on flights to the United States from Nicaragua and Honduras.

ICE removed Honduran and Nicaraguan nationals with final orders of removal from the United States to their home countries on April 1. On the return flights to the United States, ICE facilitated the transportation of U.S. citizens and LPRs in accordance with the OMB Circular A-126 and the DHS MD 0020.1.

Prior to boarding an ICE Air flight, detainees are screened for a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees or other symptoms. Detainees with symptoms are immediately referred to a medical provider for further evaluation and observation. ICE will continue to work with the State Department to facilitate the safe return of U.S. citizens and LPRs on future removal flight returns from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. These return operations have started to expand to other countries outside of the Northern Triangle, including Colombia and Nicaragua.