Yakima officials vote down effort to ban ICE flights



YAKIMA, Wash. -- Officials have struck down an effort to ban flights charted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at an airport in Washington state.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports the Yakima City Council voted 4-3 Tuesday against a proposal for city staff to draft an executive order that would prohibit ICE from using the Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field.

Councilwoman Kay Funk had made the proposal, seeking a similar executive order as one approved for the King County International Airport.

King County Executive Dow Constantine in April signed an order to prevent companies from servicing flights that transport immigrant detainees.

ICE has been using the Yakima airport since early May. The city gets a $200 landing fee for each chartered flight.

ICE officials say the agency has transported more than 650 people through airport.