The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has released a video that shows a glimpse into deportation flights in a rare occurrence. The video, recorded in Indiana’s Gary/Chicago International Airport, captures dozens of shackled migrants being accompanied by ICE officers into an airplane to be deported.
ICE officers escort the handcuffed and ankle-shackled migrants—referred to as “aliens”—from transport vehicles into the airplane stairwell under armed supervision, their heads downcast. ICE agents sit at intervals along the plane while the detainees take their seats on board. The footage concludes with the airplane taking off from the runway.
ICE Video Reveals Deportation Process Amid Rising Fears
Posting the video to social media, ICE wrote, “Have you ever seen a deportation flight up close and personal? This one lifted off from Gary, Ind, carrying dozens of aliens with one-way tickets out of the United States.”
An ICE official in the video continued, “This is going on in many other airports throughout the country.”
The announcement comes amid a sharp rise in immigration-related fear across the United States. A new Pew Research Center survey conducted in June shows that 23% of U.S. adults are concerned about deportation. Many worry it could affect themselves or someone in their family. Immigrants are even more concerned—43% are worried, up from 33% in March. Thirty-four percent of US-born adults with one or more immigrant parents fear deportation.
This increased stress reflects the dramatic growth in deportation figures. The U.S. has deported more than 207,000 people as of mid-2025, reports the Department of Homeland Security. Stepped-up enforcement efforts have caused the number to rise notably compared to earlier years.
A demographic study by the US Census Bureau reveals that nearly 28% of the U.S. population are immigrants or children of immigrants. This translates to approximately 93 million people. The findings highlight the broad impact of immigration enforcement policies across the nation.