Summit and Stark Co. Residents Protest Deportation Flights from CAK Regional Airport
“Not Here, Not Anywhere!”
CANTON — “People don’t realize what’s happening in our community,” said Chris Harris in the documentary “ICE Air,” currently airing nationwide. She’s talking about the clandestine charter flights leaving Youngstown airport, and now the Akron-Canton Regional Airport, taking Ohioans accused of civil immigration violations to jails around the country.
The Youngstown and Akron-Canton airports are now part of a shadowy network that moves people from jail to jail and, eventually to other countries, in six point shackles, all because of the Trump administration’s incomprehensible immigration policy and Congress’ failure to enact reform.
Ohioans are tired of our tax dollars being used to support a system we don’t agree with and the separation of families. They have been speaking out against ICE-local jail detention contracts and, on Saturday August 1, will gather at the Akron Canton Regional Airport to demand an end to ICE deportation flights from this airport.
WHAT: Protest against ICE deportation flights at Akron-Canton Regional Airport
WHO: Multiple Akron, Canton, and northeast Ohio-based organizations and leaders (contact Susan Gallagher for the current list)
WHEN: August 1 from 10am - noon
WHERE: Entrance to the Akron-Canton Regional Airport (5400 Lauby Road, Canton)
Park in the airport short-term parking lot for $3/hour, or turn right on Lauby Rd and park near 5377 Lauby Rd.
Resources
The TEGNA documentary builds on WKYC’s investigation in the Youngstown charter flights and the Mahoning County Jail’s detention contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which aired in May.
View the WKYC investigation and TEGNA’s “ICE Air” documentary.
Watch a short video about the May 2026 week of action to end ICE jail on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Learn about the movement to end ICE jail in Ohio, which cancelled two contracts following the first Trump administration and is working to do it again.
Gather data about immigration detention in your region of Ohio, and learn how the Trump administration is misrepresenting their own ICE data.
Watch a video about “life” inside the Butler County Jail.
Learn about the Detained Immigrants Commissary Fund and make a donation.
Tell your friends, family, and social networks about the Ohio Immigrant Hotline and program it into your phone.
Read about the experiences of Ohioans who were detained and deported in Broken Hope: Deportation and the Road Home.
