As recently reported by the Washington Examiner, federal assault charges will be filed against two migrants from Haiti. The Haitian migrants allegedly bit two federal law enforcement officers while on board a deportation flight, with the incident occurring as the plane was taxiing to the runway.
The deportation plane incident is just one of several that have occurred when Haitian migrants are disapproved for entry into the United States and they learn about their deportation back to Haiti. In addition, this incident illustrates growing security issues for governmental and federally contracted officials, who are tasked with deporting this particular population from the nation.
The incident occurred on Monday, when a flight was set to depart from the Laughlin Air Force Base, located in Del Rio, at approximately 8:00 a.m. local time. As the plane taxied down the runway, it was abruptly forced to reverse course and return to the gate due to a reported disturbance. Apparently, two passengers left their seats and subsequently attacked ICE officers.
In a statement to the Washington Examiner, a senior law enforcement officer remarked that the Haitian migrants realized they were being returned to Haiti and subsequently “lost it.” Shortly thereafter, the biting incidents allegedly occurred.
According to Federal Aviation Administration policy, Migrants who are on board deportation flights do not have to be restrained in their seats, aside from rare circumstances in which convicted criminals are on the flights. Given the absence of restraints, deportees can move easily around the cabin, which leaves them free to assault various officials aboard the plane.
The American government was also forced to cancel a second deportation flight on Monday at approximately 5:00 a.m., given that the Haitian migrants were highly “disruptive” and not compliant while the plane was atop the tarmac.
A witness remarked that the assailants were male, and “They were fighting personnel on the plane.”
