The agency that operates Portsmouth International Airport says it has no legal authority to impede or stop federal immigration agents from operating deportation flights from their runway, despite ongoing pressure from local immigration activists.

On Tuesday, the Pease Development Authority, which oversees the airport, released a memorandum saying the agency “could face civil and/or criminal liability for attempting to do so” and noted that the airport’s deed includes specific language allowing government aircraft to use the runway.

The agency pointed to its legal status as a “public-use airport” which requires it to open its runways to “aircraft of the United States at all times, without charge.”

ICE has been operating regular domestic flights out of the Portsmouth airport since July

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