Denver Rejects Key Lime Air Lease Over ICE Deportation Flights

The Denver City Council has voted to deny a proposed ground space lease at Denver International Airport to regional carrier Key Lime Air, citing opposition to the airline’s role in operating deportation flights for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The council approved the measure by an 11–1 vote, making a clear political statement while stopping short of affecting the airline’s core operations.

Key Lime Air, which is based at Denver Centennial Airport, had applied to lease approximately 1,300 square metres of storage and office space at Denver International. The airport is owned and operated by the City and County of Denver, giving elected officials final authority over such leasing decisions.

Council members opposing the lease said the airline’s involvement in ICE deportation charters conflicted with the city’s values. “We have to send a message, and we have to push back in any way we can,” said councilwoman Flor Alvidrez during the debate, framing the decision as a form of protest against federal immigration enforcement policies.

Key Lime Air operates charter flights for ICE as part of the federal government’s deportation program, a role that has drawn criticism from immigrant rights groups and local activists in several US cities. Denver officials stressed that while they cannot block federal immigration enforcement, they can choose how city-owned assets are used.

Despite the council’s decision, the rejection of the lease will not disrupt Key Lime Air’s existing operations at Denver International. The airline will continue to have free access to a shared storage area at the airport, ensuring that its current activities are not directly affected.

Importantly, the vote does not impact Denver Air Connection, Key Lime Air’s scheduled passenger service brand. Denver Air Connection operates federally subsidized Essential Air Service routes connecting smaller communities to major hubs, including Denver International. Those flights will continue as normal, and the airline retains its operating authority and access to airport facilities required for scheduled service.

City officials emphasized that the decision was narrowly focused on the specific lease request and did not constitute a ban on the airline or its aircraft. The move also avoids potential legal challenges that could arise from interfering with federally regulated aviation or immigration activities.

The vote highlights growing tensions between local governments and federal agencies over immigration enforcement, with aviation infrastructure increasingly becoming a focal point of political debate. While Denver has positioned itself as a city willing to challenge ICE policies symbolically, its actions remain constrained by federal law and the practical realities of airport operations.

For Key Lime Air, the decision represents a reputational and political setback rather than an operational one. The airline has not publicly commented on the council’s vote. Whether similar actions could emerge in other cities where ICE charter flights operate remains an open question as the debate over immigration enforcement continues to intensify.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com