News
Trump Begins Deportations Using U.S. Military C-17 Aircraft
On Friday, U.S. military C-17 aircraft began transporting detained migrants out of the country, following directives from President Donald Trump. The Pentagon also prepared to deploy additional troops to the southern border, including personnel from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.
Two military aircraft, each carrying approximately 80 migrants, flew from the United States to Guatemala, according to a U.S. official speaking to Reuters.
In a statement, the State Department emphasized the cooperation between Guatemala and the United States in addressing illegal migration and enhancing border security, noting that the initiative began with two flights that day.
The use of U.S. military aircraft for such operations is not unprecedented. For example, these planes were utilized during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. However, an official noted that this marked a rare instance of military planes being used to deport migrants from the U.S.
On his first day in office, Trump declared illegal immigration a national emergency. This led to measures including deploying military support for border security, issuing broad asylum restrictions, and proposing limits to citizenship for children born in the U.S.
Trump’s January 20 executive order directed the Pentagon to send as many troops as necessary to secure “complete operational control” of the U.S. southern border.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed the start of deportation flights in a post on X, previously known as Twitter.
The Pentagon announced plans to use military aircraft to deport more than 5,000 detained migrants from facilities in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California.
Trump is sending 1,500 additional active-duty troops to the US- Mexico border.
Earlier in the week, the Trump administration revealed plans to send 1,500 active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. U.S. officials also disclosed preparations for a second wave of troop deployments as soon as the following week, potentially including soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division. The additional troops could reach several thousand, though no formal decision had been made.
The 82nd Airborne Division, known for rapid deployment during global crises, is more commonly assigned to conflict zones than domestic border operations.
Reuters reported informal discussions about deploying up to 10,000 troops over time. However, the final number would depend on military readiness and operational needs.
During his presidency, Trump previously deployed 5,200 troops to the southern border. Former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, also sent active-duty military personnel to the border during his term.
