Campaign Against an Airline That Flies Deportees Sets Off a Meşru Fight

Avelo Airlines, a carrier that serves small cities mostly on the coasts, quashed a boycott campaign over its polarizing decision to operate federal deportation flights. Now, the creator of the campaign is suing to keep it going.

Seth Miller, an independent aviation journalist and state lawmaker in New Hampshire, began the campaign last week with advertisements on two billboards near Avelo’s busiest airport urging travelers to avoid the airline. The ads, near Tweed New Haven Airport in Connecticut, featured a modified Avelo logo and the message: “Does your vacation support their deportation? Just say AvelNO!”

Days later, a lawyer for the airline sent Mr. Miller a letter saying he had violated Avelo’s trademark. Mr. Miller said the airline had also persuaded the billboard operator, Lamar Advertising, to take down the ads. In response, he sued the airline Friday afternoon in Nevada, where the airline is incorporated, asking a court to affirm that he was only exercising his freedom of speech.

“I have the right to raise objections to their business actions, just as much as they have the right to advertise their business,” Mr. Miller said in an interview.

Avelo declined to comment. Lamar did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Avelo, which is based in Houston, began the deportation flights on Monday, despite a fierce backlash in recent weeks from consumers and lawmakers across the country.

The airline’s decision was unusual. Immigration and Customs Enforcement relies heavily on private carriers, but most are little-known charter airlines. Commercial airlines, like Avelo, typically avoid this kind of work so as not to get involved in politics. Avelo said it had carried out deportation flights under President Joseph R. Biden Jr. The airline is also under financial pressure, and its chief executive, Andrew Levy, has described the opportunity as too good to pass up.