Amazon's persistent bid to dominate the airline market has reportedly led to the company acquiring part of a controversial company that is instrumental in efforts to deport USA.
According to one Publication of the Intercept, Amazon bought part of an air cargo holding company whose subsidiaries also own a passenger carrier responsible for operating deportation flights for Ministry of Homeland Security (DHS from Department of Homeland Security) under the “ICE Air” program.
Many activists claim that these flights should be stopped immediately.
Why
This subsidiary, called Omni Air International, is said to charges high fees DHS for deportation flights that are considered "high risk", according to Intercept contract documents.
However, the definition of DHS high risk is incredibly broad and applies to seemingly commonplace factors such as an "unusual destination or a long distance destination".
Regardless of the cause, since passengers are considered high-risk, they are said to be subjected to harsher, and sometimes violent, treatment.
Specifically, the publication refers to a deportation case in 2017 that allegedly involved Omni Air, where deportees going to Somalia were beaten and tied to special jackets.
Overall, the University of Washington Center for Human Rights has document 99 complaints (PDF) submitted to DHS between 2007 and 2018 for ICE Air expulsion flights.
Amazon has reportedly bought a 19,5% stake in Air Transport Services Group, the holding company, for about $131 million last year, and there are plans to acquire up to 39,9% of ATSG. Of course the event put Amazon in direct contradiction with its position on immigration.
On its website, Amazon claims that it "strongly supports immigrant rights and immigration reform" because it is imperative for the United States to remain competitive.
