Why are ICE planes flying out of Pease a news story?

This week, several local New England news outlets reported on a story that created a lot of chatter and concern amongst residents of local communities. By the sound of that opening sentence, you’re probably expecting the story to be earth shattering news. Unfortunately, it’s not. The story people are expressing concern about was ICE flights operating out of Portsmouth International Airport at Pease in Portsmouth, NH.

NHPR reported that Tom Cartwright, called "the world's only credible public source on U.S. deportation flights" in a recent article in The Atlantic, confirms detainee flights have ramped up at Portsmouth International Airport at Pease since the flights were discontinued at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts in mid-July.

NHPR also reported that ICE detainees have been taken aboard planes in Portsmouth on July 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26 and 29, Cartwright said. The flight on the 29th arrived from Alexandria, Louisiana, described by USA TODAY as the nation's "top deportation hub," and was scheduled to return to Alexandria after additional stops.

In addition to NHPR, News 9 Investigates reported on the ICE activity in Portsmouth and stated the City of Portsmouth said it has heard from concerned residents who are unhappy the flights are happening in Portsmouth.

News 9 Investigates quoted Portsmouth, NH Mayor Deaglan McEachern saying, "They're upset by the lack of due process, the lack of transparency, all of the things that are coming with the increased enforcement on immigration.” News 9 Investigates also reported that a woman who witnessed the vans coming and going from the airport last week and who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons said it was a shame to see what was happening. She said she apologized to the detainees as they were led out of the van in shackles.

These are the types of stories that cause people to lose trust in the biased, left wing media. They hype up a “story”, make it sound traumatizing to scare people and fail to report the real facts. Since News 9 Investigates and NHPR failed to report a balanced, factual story, I will assist and fill in the blanks for them.

Here are the facts that should have been reported in any news report about ICE planes flying illegal immigrants out of Portsmouth International Airport at Pease. If someone is in ICE custody, they are in the United States illegally. If you enter the United States illegally, you have committed a crime (8 U.S. Code § 1325) and therefore have earned the honorable title of being a criminal.

So why are ICE flights happening in Portsmouth, NH a story that people are concerned about? Portsmouth, NH is a hotbed of extreme left lunatics. That’s evident when 73% of Portsmouth residents voted for Kamala Harris in the last General Election. Let that sink in.

To the residents of Portsmouth, NH, do you get concerned when you see a Sheriff’s van driving down the road, transporting prisoners to jail? Do you get concerned when a criminal who is wanted in NH gets captured in another state and gets flown back to NH to face justice? Have you ever heard the names Jocelyn Nungaray, Laken Riley, or Rachel Morin?

The residents of Portsmouth and the left wing media need a wake up call. Why are people sympathizing with criminals being removed from our communities? What will it take for you to wake up and recognize the threat criminal illegal aliens pose? As unfortunate as it is to say, I think there is a certain group of people that will never support enforcing our country’s laws until either they or someone they love become a victim of crime committed by a criminal illegal alien.

Chris Thompson’s (christhompsnh@gmail.com) column is published weekly on www.graniteeaglepress.com and www.howiecarrshow.com