Clarifying the facts about detainee flights Published June 13, 2014 HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, officials flew five detainee flights into Hanscom Field, a Massachusetts Port Authority-run facility, earlier this spring. Contrary to published reports, no detainees were ever housed at Hanscom AFB or released. ICE transferred detainees to waiting busses, where the individuals were then taken to area prison facilities. Those busses were allowed to transit a portion of the Air Force Base en route to the facilities. In late May, the Hanscom AFB commander, upon becoming aware of the potential for routine recurrence of the transfers, halted Hanscom AFB cooperation until more information could be gathered and a memorandum of agreement with ICE could be developed. Those actions have not reached enough progress for the transfers to resume with Hanscom AFB cooperation. Additional information about detainee transfer flights, including their purpose, the destination of detainees flown into the area and the timing of subsequent immigration hearings should be directed to ICE. ICE New England Region Public Affairs can be contacted at 617-565-5400 or 617-935-5331.