FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | February 11, 2026
Contact: Sarah Fulton (302) 401-1114
DOVER — Following the news that Daedalus Aviation Corp. has withdrawn its lease application to the Delaware River and Bay Authority from consideration, Sen. Ray Seigfried issued the following statement:
“Earlier this morning, I received word from the Delaware River and Bay Authority that Daedalus Aviation Corp. — a private company who contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the purposes of deportations — has withdrawn its lease application for hangar space at Wilmington Airport.
Last week, all 15 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus submitted a letter to Joel Coppadge, Executive Director for the Delaware River and Bay Authority, expressing our strong concerns about Daedalus and other companies that participate in unlawful deportations calling Delaware home. I want to thank Executive Director Coppadge and the team at DRBA for their consideration of our position, and for taking time to meet with me about this matter last week.
Make no mistake: Delaware’s business-friendly bona fides should not mean that leaders in our state will blindly welcome businesses that align with organizations that we know to be complicit in the denial of civil rights. Democrats in the Legislature stand firm in our belief that residents of the First State and all 49 others should be treated with dignity and fairness — and we will not step aside when our neighbors are being denied due process.
And we know that we’re not alone in believing this. In addition to our letter, there has been widespread public outcry from advocates across the First State raising their voices about the importance of due process and adherence to the Constitution of the United States.”
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