Trump Administration Begins Mass Deportation of Immigrants Using Military Aircraft

Trump Administration Begins Mass Deportation of Immigrants

The Trump administration has begun its promised mass deportation of immigrants who entered the US illegally. Photos released by the White House show people in restraints being boarded onto US airlift planes.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the first deportation flights on Friday morning, stating that President Trump is sending a strong message to the world that illegal entry into the US will have severe consequences.

Two deportation flights to Guatemala were flown overnight on C-17 military aircraft, according to a US defense official. In a post on Thursday night, Leavitt said the administration had arrested over 500 "illegal immigrant criminals" and hundreds more were being deported by military aircraft.

Prior to his reelection, Trump's campaign focused heavily on the issue of illegal immigration, criticizing the Biden administration for failing to protect US borders and repeatedly promising a mass deportation campaign. Deportations surged under former President Biden but to less fanfare. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement data tracked almost 300,000 deportations of immigrants from October 2023 to September 2024, the highest since 2014.

During his inaugural address on Monday, Trump reiterated his commitment to halting illegal entry and returning millions of "criminal aliens" to their home countries. On his first day in office, he signed an executive order declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border and directing US Northern Command to "seal the borders" and maintain US sovereignty.

A senior defense official said this week that the US military is moving an additional 1,500 active-duty soldiers and Marines to the border, boosting the force presence there by roughly 60%. The troops are operating in support roles and are barred from engaging in direct law enforcement activities. Military aircraft being used in this mission include UH-72 helicopters, C-130 cargo planes, and C-17 airlifters.