Forty House Democrats have sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration administrator Bryan Bedford expressing concerns about the conditions and transparency of Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation flights.

The lawmakers described what they called "grave concerns" over ICE's use of commercial charter flights to transport detained immigrants and requested the FAA address allegations of mistreatment and inhumane conditions aboard these aircraft.

In the letter, the Democrats characterized ICE's expanded use of commercial airliners for immigrant transfers as involving "inappropriate and dangerous" efforts to shield operations from public scrutiny. They emphasized what they described as an "urgent need for transparency" regarding the deportation flight program.

The letter specifically calls on the FAA to investigate the allegations of mistreatment and poor conditions that immigrants reportedly face during these charter flights. The lawmakers are seeking greater oversight of how these transportation operations are conducted.

ICE has increasingly relied on charter flights as part of broader immigration enforcement efforts, though details about the frequency, routes, and conditions of these flights have not been widely disclosed by the agency.