Albuquerque Airport Faces Federal Lawsuit Over Sanctuary Laws and Deportation Flights

Sanctuary Officials Rally at Albuquerque International Sunport Against CSI Aviation

Immigrant rights groups and local activists gathered at the Albuquerque International Sunport to protest deportation flights operated by CSI Aviation. This action highlights a growing conflict between local sanctuary laws and federal immigration enforcement policies. The federal government has sued New Mexico and Albuquerque over laws that restrict cooperation with immigration authorities, with potential consequences for the airport’s international status.

Federal Lawsuit Against New Mexico and Albuquerque

The federal government has taken legal action against New Mexico and the City of Albuquerque, citing state laws that obstruct federal immigration enforcement. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison stated that these laws unlawfully interfere with federal operations and violate constitutional principles of federal supremacy. Specifically, New Mexico’s Immigrant Safety Act, or HB 9, prohibits local governments from contracting with the federal government to detain individuals for civil immigration violations. Albuquerque’s Safe Community Places Ordinance further restricts Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from using city property, including the airport, for enforcement actions and requires businesses to notify employees if ICE agents are present.

CSI Aviation’s Role in Deportation Flights

CSI Aviation, headquartered near the Albuquerque International Sunport, has become a focal point for protesters due to its contract with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The company provides flights that officials describe as “relocation” and deportation services. Activists argue that private contractors like CSI Aviation are integral to mass deportation efforts, even when local governments attempt to limit cooperation with federal immigration agencies. Protesters gathered near the company’s headquarters, demanding an end to private contracts that facilitate deportations and carrying signs with slogans like “They’re not welcome here in Albuquerque.”

DHS Threatens International Status for Non-Cooperative Airports

The dispute escalated when DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin suggested that the administration might withdraw Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from airports in cities that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. This warning directly impacts the Albuquerque International Sunport, as the removal of CBP officers could lead to the revocation of its international airport status. Such a consequence would have significant economic implications, affecting tourism and trade, and ties the airport’s operational status to the broader debate over local control and federal authority in immigration matters.

Broader Immigration Policy Changes

This local confrontation is occurring alongside significant shifts in national immigration policy. On May 22, 2026, USCIS issued a policy memorandum, PM-602-0199, titled “Adjustment of Status is a Matter of Discretion and Administrative Grace.” This memo directs officers to grant adjustment of status, a pathway to permanent residency, only in “extraordinary circumstances.” This policy change pushes more individuals toward consular processing abroad, which can carry risks of long-term re-entry bars. Additionally, DHS has begun implementing “Mega Master” hearings in immigration courts, consolidating up to 100 individuals into single hearings to expedite deportation proceedings. These national policy changes add another layer to the ongoing immigration enforcement efforts that intersect with local resistance.

The Airport as a Test Case

The Albuquerque International Sunport has emerged as a prominent test case in the conflict between local sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement. The airport’s role as a transportation hub, combined with CSI Aviation’s operations and the city’s ordinances, makes it a visible battleground. The legal arguments center on whether local governments can restrict the use of their property and contracts for federal immigration operations, and whether federal law, under the Supremacy Clause, overrides these local restrictions. The standoff involves court filings, administrative threats, and public demonstrations, with Albuquerque at the forefront of this multifaceted confrontation.