Albuquerque‑based CSI Aviation is at the center of a new federal lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C., accusing the company of participating in an illegal immigration enforcement operation that sent dozens of illegal immigrants to a detention facility in El Salvador. The complaint alleges that in 2025 the firm’s subcontractor loaded 230 shackled migrants onto three chartered planes and, despite a district judge’s order to halt the flights, the Trump administration instructed the operations to continue.
Allegations and alleged conditions
Civil‑rights attorney Ben Davis, who is not representing any party in the case, described the accusations as unprecedented. He said the migrants were told they were being returned to Venezuela but were instead taken to the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), a large prison in El Salvador. Davis quoted reports of severe beatings, rubber‑bullet injuries, lack of food, water, medical care and even sexual abuse at the facility.
Company ties to the Trump administration
CSI Aviation has long worked with the federal government. Federal spending records show the firm received a $1.3 billion contract from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2025 to facilitate deportation flights. The company also donated nearly $1 million to Trump‑aligned political action committees during the 2024 election cycle, and President Trump used CSI’s Sunport hangar for a rally in Albuquerque that same year, emphasizing the need for strong border security.
Administration’s legal rationale
Retired Border Patrol sector chief Chris Clem, a former senior advisor under President Trump, cautioned that the case may involve complex legal questions. He noted that the administration has “plenty of case law” that can authorize such operations, and that a single district‑court order does not overturn broader executive authority. Clem suggested the administration could have been more transparent, but stressed the importance of securing the border while pursuing immigration reform that allows lawful entry and contribution to the country.
Response and next steps
CSI Aviation has not responded to requests for comment. The lawsuit seeks damages and an injunction to prevent any further flights that violate court orders. Legal analysts say the outcome will hinge on whether the courts find the executive branch exceeded its statutory authority or acted within the scope of immigration enforcement powers granted by Congress.
What this means for New Mexico
For New Mexico residents, the case highlights the intersection of local businesses, federal immigration policy, and the Trump administration’s aggressive approach to border security. While the allegations are serious, the administration’s defenders argue that strong enforcement is necessary to protect communities and uphold the rule of law.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
