WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HF 4970

Transparency regarding immigrant detention flights at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport required, and reports required.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Esther Agbaje and 32 co-sponsors

Requires MAC to publicly report and stream live details of ICE Air flights at MSP, including detainee counts (with minors) and flight origins/destinations.

Introduction and first reading, referred to State Government Finance and Policy
#airportsandaircraft #governmentaloperations-federal
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 4970

Summary of HF 4970 (Session 2025-2026) – Minnesota

Purpose and Intent

HF 4970 aims to increase transparency and public oversight of immigrant detention flights associated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that operate through the Signature Aviation terminal at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). The bill requires Notification from Signature Aviation, live streaming video of loading/unloading, and monthly public reporting on such flights. The underlying goal is to provide the Legislature and the public with timely, verifiable information about detained individuals on ICE Air flights arriving at or departing from MSP.

Key Provisions

  1. Definitions and Scope

    • Establishes terms for the new section:
      • “Commission” = Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), per Minnesota statute.
      • “Detained individual” = an aircraft passenger traveling involuntarily or restrained beyond a seatbelt.
      • “ICE Air” = ICE Air Operations that transfer/removal of undocumented immigrants on commercial or charter flights.
      • “MSP” = Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
      • “Signature Aviation” = operator of the Signature Aviation terminal at MSP.
      • “Signature Aviation terminal” = MSP terminal used for private international and business flights.

  2. Notice Requirement (Subdivision 2)

    • Signature Aviation must notify MAC of every ICE Air charter flight that arrives at or departs from the Signature Aviation terminal.
    • Notification content must include:
      • Total number of passengers who are detained individuals.
      • Number of detained individuals under 18 years of age.
      • Scheduled arrival and departure times.
      • Origin and destination of the flight.

  3. Live Video Streaming (Subdivision 3)

    • MAC must install, maintain, and operate a camera capable of recording and streaming footage live on the Internet 24/7.
    • The camera must be placed to record loading and unloading of all ICE Air chartered flights at the Signature Aviation terminal.
    • Live footage must be publicly accessible on MAC’s website.
    • MAC staff must monitor loading/unloading for each ICE Air charter flight and record the number of passengers, including detained individuals, loaded/unloaded.

  4. Monthly Report (Subdivision 4)

    • On the 15th day of each month, MAC must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over public safety and state government.
    • Each monthly report must include:
      • The number of ICE Air charter flights arriving at and departing from the Signature Aviation terminal, with origins and destinations.
      • The number of detained individuals loaded or unloaded, including counts of those under 18.

  5. Effective Date

    • The act becomes effective the day after final enactment (immediate implementation upon enactment, subject to the procedural path of the bill).

Who Is Affected

  • Signature Aviation (terminal operator at MSP): Responsible for providing notices of ICE Air charter flights.
  • Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport / Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC): Responsible for installing and maintaining the live video stream, monitoring, data collection, and producing the monthly reports.
  • Legislature (state-level): Receives monthly public-facing data and monitoring information; oversight capability is enhanced through transparency.
  • Detained Individuals on ICE Air Flights: Information about their numbers (and counts under 18) becomes part of public reporting and oversight.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The bill was introduced and referred to the Committee on State Government Finance and Policy (as of the first reading date in April 2026).
  • Effective date is the day after final enactment.
  • Monthly reporting is fixed to the 15th of each month.

Format and Accessibility

  • Information to be publicly accessible via MAC’s website (live stream) and through monthly written reports to legislative leadership.
  • Data elements required are specific: counts of detained passengers, including minors, and flight origin/destination/times.

If you’d like, I can provide a quick comparison to current reporting practices at MSP, or a plain-language FAQ addressing common questions about how the live stream would operate and what kinds of data will be publicly available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.