A subdomain of GlobalX Airlines' website was defaced by hackers identifying themselves as part of "Anonymous," a decentralized activist collective often associated with digital protest. The cyberattack targeted the airline for its role in facilitating deportation flights under the Trump administration, specifically a controversial operation in March that transported Venezuelan migrants to an offshore detention center in El Salvador. The operation proceeded despite a federal judge's order to halt the flights, a move that has since been ruled unlawful by the courts.
The defaced webpage displayed a message against a black background with white text and an image of the Guy Fawkes mask, a symbol associated with Anonymous. The message accused the airline and its staff of ignoring legal orders in support of what the hackers described as "fascist plans," and stated that Anonymous was stepping in to "enforce the Judge’s order."
GlobalX has been under scrutiny following a ProPublica report that included accounts from flight attendants who raised concerns about safety practices and the treatment of shackled detainees on board. Despite public outcry and the judicial ruling, the Trump administration has reportedly continued to support the deportation campaign.
Neither GlobalX nor U.S. immigration officials have commented on the defacement or the ongoing controversy surrounding the deportation flights.
Reference:
Reuters. “Website for US deportation airline GlobalX defaced by hackers” Reuters. May 6, 2025.
