HF4970

Purpose

This bill aims to increase transparency around immigrant detention flights at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP) by requiring notification, live video streaming, and monthly public reporting about flights operated by ICE Air at the Signature Aviation terminal.

Key Definitions

• Commission: Metropolitan Airports Commission (the agency overseeing MSP).
• Detained individual: an aircraft passenger traveling involuntarily or held in any restraint other than a seatbelt.
• ICE Air: 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 company that operates the Signature Aviation terminal at MSP.
• Signature Aviation terminal: the terminal at MSP used for private international and business flights, operated by Signature Aviation.

Main Provisions

• Notice required (Subd.2):

  • Signature Aviation must notify the Commission about every ICE Air flight arriving at or departing from the Signature Aviation terminal.
  • Each notice must include: the number of detained individuals, how many are under 18, scheduled arrival and departure times, and the flight origin and destination.

• Streaming video (Subd.3):

  • The Commission must install, maintain, and operate a camera that records and streams footage live on the Internet 24/7.
  • The livestream must cover loading and unloading of all passengers on ICE Air flights at the Signature Aviation terminal and be accessible to the public on the Commission’s website.
  • Commission staff must monitor loading and unloading times and count the number of passengers, including detained individuals and those under 18, for the monthly report.

• Monthly report (Subd.4):

  • On the 15th of each month, the Commission must prepare and send a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over public safety and state government.
  • The report must include, for each ICE Air flight: the number of flights arriving and departing, the origin and destination, and the number of detained individuals loaded or unloaded (including those under 18).

Significance and Potential Effects

• Creates public, ongoing transparency about immigrant detention flights at MSP.
• Establishes formal oversight through regular reporting to legislative committees.
• Introduces public access to live video of the loading/unloading process at the Signature Aviation terminal.
• Expands the data available to policymakers and the public about detained passengers and flight activity.

Implementation Notes

• The new requirements establish a dedicated statutory section (473.686) with specific duties for the Commission and for Signature Aviation.
• Public livestream and monthly reporting create ongoing, verifiable oversight of ICE Air activities at MSP.

Relevant Terms immigrant detention flights; ICE Air; MSP; Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport; Signature Aviation terminal; Signature Aviation; Metropolitan Airports Commission; detained individuals; under 18; notice; live streaming; livestream; loading and unloading; origin; destination; flights arriving; flights departing; monthly report.