A chilling new report reveals that a private jet, owned by a longtime friend and donor of Donald Trump, has been used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the deportation of Palestinian men directly to the occupied West Bank. This operation, shrouded in secrecy, raises profound questions about human rights, due process, and the alarming shift in America's deportation practices. Were these individuals simply being sent home, or were they being handed over to a region fraught with instability and potential danger?
The flights, meticulously documented, saw shackled individuals, some of whom had lived in the U.S. for years, transported thousands of miles only to be left at a West Bank checkpoint. This isn't just about one jet or one group of people; it points to a pattern of increasingly opaque and potentially questionable ICE operations under administrations that have prioritized swift deportations. What exactly does "deportation to the West Bank" mean in practice, and who is accountable when things go wrong?
A JET-SETTER FOR THE DEPORTED: THE PLAYERS AND THE PLANES
The core of this investigation lies with Gil Dezer, a Florida property tycoon and a known ally of the Trump family. Dezer, who has donated to Trump's campaigns and is a member of the Miami branch of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, owns a luxurious Gulfstream IV jet, which he affectionately calls "my little rocket ship." It's this very jet that has reportedly been chartered by ICE for at least two clandestine deportation flights of Palestinian men to the West Bank in January 2026.
Read More: Rep. Chuy García Speaks Out on Epstein Files, Long Chicago Career
These flights are not isolated incidents. Dezer's jet has been implicated in other deportation missions to African countries as well. The use of such private, high-end aircraft for what are essentially prisoner transfers raises eyebrows.
Who is Gil Dezer? A prominent businessman with deep ties to the Trump circle.
What is his connection? A friend, donor, and a member of a pro-Israel organization.
What is the plane? A Gulfstream IV jet, used for multiple ICE deportation flights.
What's the route? From the U.S. (Arizona, in one case) to Tel Aviv, then to a West Bank checkpoint.
Were there stops? Yes, refueling stops in places like New Jersey, Ireland, and Bulgaria were noted, raising potential concerns for transit countries.
The stark contrast between the opulent private jet and the plight of the shackled deportees is jarring. It suggests a deliberate effort to obscure the grim reality of these operations, making them less visible and perhaps less subject to scrutiny.
THE HUMAN COST: LIVES INTERRUPTED AND FAMILIES TORN APART
Behind the statistics and the aviation jargon are individuals whose lives have been irrevocably altered. Consider the case of Maher Awad, a 24-year-old Palestinian who had resided in the U.S. for nearly a decade. He left the West Bank at age 15, building a life, a relationship, and fathering a newborn son in Michigan.
Read More: Some ICE Officers Arrested Amid More Misconduct Claims
"His life, he said, was in the U.S. He said he obtained a US social security number, paid taxes, and got a driving licence… Awad said he was 15 when he left the West Bank and travelled alone to the US on a tourist visa, joining siblings and extended family."
Awad was left behind, separated from his partner and their infant son, whom he has never met. He spent a year in immigration detention before being deported, reportedly with his wrists handcuffed to his stomach, a disturbing detail highlighting the physical restraint used.
Duration of U.S. Residence: Nearly a decade for Awad.
Family Ties: Left behind a partner and newborn son.
Dignity of Deportation: Forced to wear restraints, handcuffed to the stomach.
Destination: Dropped at a West Bank checkpoint, an area facing ongoing conflict.
Read More: Pam Bondi Questioned About Epstein Files at Government Hearing
These personal accounts underscore the immense human toll of these "secretive" operations. Are we truly giving individuals with established lives in the U.S. a fair chance to remain, or are we rushing them out to uncertain futures?
A SHIFT IN DEPORTATION TACTICS: JURISDICTIONAL AND DUE PROCESS DILEMMAS
Former U.S. officials and immigration lawyers have voiced serious concerns about the nature of these deportations. The use of third-country coordination and direct transfers into occupied territory, as opposed to deporting individuals to their country of origin, opens a Pandora's Box of legal and ethical issues.
"Former U.S. officials and immigration lawyers told the Guardian the flights appear to reflect a shift in deportation practice, involving third-country coordination and transfers into occupied territory, which they said could raise due process and jurisdictional questions."
Read More: Governor's New Tool to Report ICE Agents Causes Big Fight
Specifically, the coordination of deportations with Israeli authorities to deliver individuals to the West Bank, rather than to their actual point of origin (Palestine), raises critical questions:
Due Process: Were these individuals given adequate notice and opportunity to challenge their deportations, especially considering the destination?
Jurisdiction: Does ICE have the legal standing to orchestrate deportations to a territory with complex legal and political status, effectively bypassing standard international protocols?
Third-Country Transfers: What are the implications of coordinating with foreign governments for deportations, especially to regions experiencing conflict?
Transparency: How can the public trust ICE's operations when they are conducted in such secrecy, using private assets?
The fact that men were left at a checkpoint without prior notice, as reported by a local professor, suggests a disregard for orderly procedures and a potential abdication of responsibility.
Read More: FBI Search of Georgia Election Records Investigated
What about the rule of law? Do these "special requests" from U.S. officials to Israeli officials bypass fundamental legal protections?
Are we complicit? By facilitating these deportations, is the U.S. indirectly endorsing or contributing to potential human rights concerns in the destination region?
THE BOOMING BUSINESS OF DEPORTATION: A PROFITABLE ENDEAVOR?
This isn't just about one plane; it's about a system. Investigations reveal that ICE has been utilizing a vast fleet of aircraft – at least 110 planes – for over 5,100 flights since Trump's second term began. The scale of these operations is staggering, and the push for more efficient, albeit less transparent, methods is evident.
Recent reports indicate ICE has chartered Global Crossing (GlobalX) for over 1,700 domestic flights between January and May of the past year. Furthermore, there are reports of ICE being instructed to purchase 10 Boeing 737s from Spirit Airlines, ostensibly to expand deportation flights, but also possibly for administrative travel.
Read More: Minister and Mayor Disagree with Businessman on Immigration
Number of Planes Used by ICE: At least 110.
Number of Flights (Trump's 2nd Term): Over 5,100.
Recent Charter Operator: Global Crossing (GlobalX).
New Aircraft Acquisition: Plans to purchase Boeing 737s.
This burgeoning "business of deportation" raises concerns about financial incentives and the drive for efficiency over due process. The report from the Financial Times, "The booming business of Trump’s deportation flights," hints at a system where speed and volume might be prioritized over the well-being and rights of the individuals being deported. The fact that many of these flights are sparsely populated and that air marshals report frequent errors in passenger lists points to potential disorganization and a lack of oversight within this massive operation.
EXPERT ANALYSIS: A SLIPPERY SLOPE TOWARDS IMPUNITY
"The Israeli army usually doesn't release prisoners at this checkpoint," said Mohammad Kanaan, a university professor living near the checkpoint where the men were dropped off. "Families believed some detainees were missing due to lack of contact."
Read More: Joe Biden Steps Down from 2024 Presidential Race
This observation from a local resident highlights the potential chaos and distress caused by such abrupt transfers.
Immigration lawyers and former officials, speaking anonymously to The Guardian, have expressed alarm. They suggest these flights could be part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to "obscure from public view… secret deals to send immigrants to foreign prisons." This echoes earlier concerns about the use of private jets, including one formerly owned by Jeffrey Epstein, for campaign purposes, suggesting a pattern of leveraging private assets for politically charged operations.
The potential violation of international law by sending migrants to countries to which they have no ties, as suggested in a report concerning flights to Eswatini, is a serious accusation that warrants thorough investigation. The lack of response from representatives of the Dezer family firm and the charter company adds to the atmosphere of opacity.
THE ROAD AHEAD: DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
The revelations surrounding Gil Dezer's private jet being used for ICE deportations to the West Bank are deeply troubling. This investigation demands immediate answers and a rigorous examination of ICE's operational practices.
Read More: Immigration Leaders to Speak to Senate as Government Funding May End
Who authorized these specific flights and the destination? Was there direct approval from high-ranking officials within ICE or the Department of Homeland Security?
What due process was afforded to the deportees? Were they aware of their destination and did they have opportunities to appeal?
What is the U.S. government's understanding of the legal and safety conditions at the West Bank checkpoints where individuals are being dropped off?
Will the U.S. government investigate the potential violations of international law and human rights principles in these deportations?
Will ICE be held accountable for its lack of transparency and potential disregard for constitutional rights?
The public has a right to know how its tax dollars are being spent and how its government is treating vulnerable individuals. The "secretive" nature of these flights, the use of private assets, and the troubling destination all point towards a system that may be operating outside the bounds of transparency and accountability. It's time to shine a spotlight on these shadow flights and demand that justice and human rights are not sacrificed for the sake of expedited deportations.
SOURCES:
Investigation: Trump Ally's Jet Used in Covert ICE Deportation Flights to West Bank - BritBrief
Trump donor's private jet is now being used for deportations - Raw Story
This Family Made Billions on Trump-Branded Condos. Now Their Private Jet Is Taking Shackled Migrants to a Far-Flung African Prison - Zeteo (Note: This article from Oct 2025 mentions Dezer's jet and African deportations, predating the Palestinian ones).
Trump Admin Reportedly Used Israeli-Owned Private Jet to Deport Palestinians - Truthout
The booming business of Trump’s deportation flights - Financial Times (Published Aug 2025)
US signs nearly $140m deal to purchase six Boeing 737s for use in deportations - The Guardian (Published Dec 2025)
Trump Campaign Charters Private Jet Formerly Owned by Jeffrey Epstein - Democracy Now! (Published Aug 2024)
Ice’s secretive flights and deportation hub: a Guardian investigation - The Guardian (Published Sep 2025)
Deportation in the second Trump administration - Wikipedia (Note: Status is 'Low Priority', content may be limited).
