Secretive US Operation Uses Trump Ally's Jet to Deport Palestinians
A Guardian investigation has uncovered that a private jet owned by Florida property tycoon Gil Dezer, a longtime business partner and donor to Donald Trump, was utilized by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for covert deportation flights transporting Palestinians to the Israeli-occupied West Bank. This operation represents a politically sensitive shift in U.S. policy, driven by the Trump administration's aggressive mass deportation campaign.
Luxury Aircraft Facilitates Deportations
On January 21, eight Palestinian men, shackled and dressed in prison-issued tracksuits, were flown from an airport near a notorious removal center in Arizona to Tel Aviv aboard Dezer's sleek Gulfstream jet, which he has affectionately called "my little rocket ship." The flight included refueling stops in New Jersey, Ireland, and Bulgaria. Subsequently, on February 1, the same luxury jet was deployed again to transport another group of Palestinian deportees to Israel, where they were similarly taken to the West Bank.
Gil Dezer, an influential figure in Miami's luxury property scene and a friend of Donald Trump Jr., confirmed in an email that he was "never privy to the names" of those onboard when his jet was chartered by Journey Aviation, a Florida-based company frequently contracted by U.S. agencies. He did not respond to further inquiries about the jet's use in these deportation operations.
Personal Stories of Deportation
Among those deported was Maher Awad, a 24-year-old who had lived in the U.S. for nearly a decade after leaving the West Bank at age 15. Awad, who obtained a social security number, paid taxes, and worked in family businesses in Michigan, described America as "heaven" for him. He was arrested after reporting a break-in at his home, with ICE agents detaining him upon release from local jail, despite charges later being dropped. Awad spent a year in immigration detention before being deported, leaving behind his partner, Sandra McMyler, and their newborn son, whom he has never met.
Another deportee, Sameer Isam Aziz Zeidan, a 47-year-old grocery worker from Louisiana with a wife and five children in the U.S., was detained by ICE over a year ago after failing to renew his green card. Both men reported being shackled during the flight, with Awad wearing a body restraint that made eating difficult. Upon arrival, they were left at a West Bank checkpoint near the village of Ni'lin, where local resident Mohammad Kanaan provided them with food and assistance, noting they had been considered missing by their families.
Policy Implications and Costs
Former U.S. officials and immigration lawyers have highlighted that these flights, facilitated by Israel's assistance in returning Palestinians to occupied territory, signify a notable change in deportation practices. According to Human Rights First, Dezer's jet has been involved in multiple removal flights to various countries since last October, part of what the organization describes as an "opaque system" lacking accountability.
While U.S. officials did not disclose the exact costs, ICE has reported chartered flight expenses ranging from nearly $7,000 to over $26,000 per flight hour. Aviation industry sources estimate the two flights to Israel could have cost between $400,000 and $500,000. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated, "If a judge finds an illegal alien has no right to be in this country, we are going to remove them. Period," but declined to comment further on the specific flights.
Broader Context and Reactions
The Dezers have a long-standing partnership with Trump, having built six Trump-branded residential towers in Miami and donating over $1.3 million to his presidential campaigns. Gil Dezer has publicly expressed his "love" for Trump, emphasizing their close personal relationship. Savi Arvey of Human Rights First criticized the operation, stating it "has blatantly disregarded due process, separated families, and is operated without any accountability."
Israeli authorities, including the foreign ministry and prison service, declined to comment on their involvement. The refueling stops in Ireland and Bulgaria may raise legal questions for those countries regarding the transit of shackled passengers. As Awad struggles to readjust to life in the West Bank amid increased violence, he remains hopeful of returning to the U.S., where his family and life are centered.
