So, I stumbled upon this news about Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport being used by DHS for deportations, especially with the current immigration policies. Seems like the place is becoming quite the hotspot for this kind of operation. Apparently, they deported 11 Iranians back to Tehran recently, and in 2025 alone, they've already sent back 5,800 people.
It's pretty wild to think about how a smaller airport like Mesa Gateway is handling that kind of volume. I guess it makes sense to use a less busy airport to avoid some of the chaos you'd get at a place like Sky Harbor. But still, 5,800 is a big number!
I wonder how this affects regular flights in and out of Mesa? Do you think it's going to impact the commercial operations there or maybe even the local economy? Also, does anyone know if other airports are being used similarly? Curious to hear your thoughts on how this fits into the bigger picture of U.S. aviation and immigration policies.
It's pretty wild to think about how a smaller airport like Mesa Gateway is handling that kind of volume. I guess it makes sense to use a less busy airport to avoid some of the chaos you'd get at a place like Sky Harbor. But still, 5,800 is a big number!
I wonder how this affects regular flights in and out of Mesa? Do you think it's going to impact the commercial operations there or maybe even the local economy? Also, does anyone know if other airports are being used similarly? Curious to hear your thoughts on how this fits into the bigger picture of U.S. aviation and immigration policies.