SF5144

Purpose

The bill would publicly increase transparency around immigrant detention flights at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) by requiring notices, live video access, and monthly reporting about flights operated by ICE Air that use the Signature Aviation terminal.

What the bill would do (Main provisions)

• Notice to the airport commission

  • Signature Aviation would have to notify the Metropolitan Airports Commission (the Commission) about every ICE Air flight that arrives at or departs from the Signature Aviation terminal.
  • Each notice must include:
  • The number of detained individuals on the flight
  • How many of those detained individuals are under 18
  • The scheduled arrival and departure times
  • The origin and destination of the flight

• Public livestream video

  • The Commission must install, maintain, and operate a camera that can record and stream footage of loading and unloading all passengers on flights chartered by ICE Air at the Signature Aviation terminal.
  • The livestream must be publicly accessible on the Commission’s website and available 24/7.

• Monitoring and data collection

  • Commission staff must monitor the loading and unloading of ICE Air flights at the Signature Aviation terminal.
  • The staff must record the number of passengers loaded and unloaded, including how many detained individuals are under 18, for purposes of the monthly report.

• Monthly reporting

  • On the 15th of each month, the Commission must provide a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees that oversee public safety and state government.
  • The report must cover each ICE Air flight at the Signature Aviation terminal and include:
  • The number of flights arriving and departing, plus their origins and destinations
  • The number of detained individuals loaded or unloaded, including those under 18

Key terms defined (in bill language)

• Detained individual: an aircraft passenger who is traveling involuntarily or is being held in any restraint other than a seatbelt.
• ICE Air: the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Air Operations division, which moves undocumented immigrants on commercial or charter flights.
• MSP: Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport.
• Signature Aviation: the entity operating the Signature Aviation terminal at MSP.
• Signature Aviation terminal: the MSP terminal operated by Signature Aviation that handles private international and business flights.
• Commission: the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

Significance and expected impact

• Creates public visibility into immigrant detention flights at MSP.
• Establishes a formal process for notifying the airport commission about ICE Air flights.
• Provides real-time, publicly accessible video of passenger loading and unloading for these flights.
• Mandates periodic, standardized reporting to lawmakers on flight activity and detainee numbers, including the age breakdown for under-18 detainees.

Changes to existing law

• Establishes a new statutory section (IMMIGRANT DETENTION FLIGHTS) within Minnesota Statutes (473.686) with defined terms, notice requirements, a streaming video obligation, and a monthly reporting requirement.
• Expands oversight of ICE Air activities at MSP by requiring the Commission to publicly document and report flight details and detainee counts.

Relevant Terms immigrant detention flights, MSP, Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, Signature Aviation, Signature Aviation terminal, ICE Air, detained individuals, under 18, notice, livestream, camera, streaming video, Commission, chairs, ranking minority members, public safety, state government, origin, destination, loading, unloading, monthly report.