(Image source from: Business-standard.com)
In light of President Donald Trump's initiative to tighten control over illegal immigration, reports indicate that his administration in the United States has ceased the use of military aircraft for the deportation of migrants who entered the country unlawfully, citing prohibitive costs. The most recent military deportation flight was conducted on March 1, and The Wall Street Journal has indicated that this suspension may continue indefinitely or be made permanent.
Following Trump's inauguration in January, the deployment of military planes began to assist in the repatriation of certain migrants to their countries or to a military facility in Guantanamo Bay. However, this approach was found to be both costly and ineffective, according to the WSJ. The administration opted for military transports to reinforce its stance on being tough on unauthorized immigrants. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed this sentiment last week during a visit to Guantanamo Bay, where he stated, "The message is clear: If you break the law, if you are a criminal, you can find your way at Guantanamo Bay," emphasizing that "You don’t want to be at Guantanamo Bay."
Under Trump's leadership, approximately 30 deportation flights utilizing C-17 aircraft and around twelve using C-130s have been executed, based on flight-tracking information. These flights targeted various locations, including India, Peru, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Ecuador, and Guantanamo Bay. In February, numerous Indian nationals were returned in multiple groups aboard a US Air Force cargo plane. Upon their arrival in India, these deportees recounted their experiences of being restrained and shackled during the flight, only being released upon landing.
Typically, the Department of Homeland Security manages the deportation of illegal migrants, usually employing commercial flights for such operations. However, the Trump administration, aiming to convey its strict approach regarding immigration, opted for military flights.
Yet, these military aircraft took longer routes, transported fewer migrants, and incurred greater expenses for taxpayers compared to traditional deportation flights on commercial airlines, as reported by WSJ. For instance, the cost for three deportation flights to India reached $3 million each. In contrast, flights to Guantanamo Bay carrying merely a small group of migrants cost taxpayers over $20,000 per individual. Data showed that a standard flight facilitated by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement usually costs about $8,500 per hour. When it comes to international flights, this cost rises to around $17,000 per hour. In comparison, the C-17 aircraft, intended for heavy loads and troop transport, incurs a cost of $28,500 per flight hour, according to the US Transportation Command, which manages these aircraft. The report also highlighted that due to the prohibition on flying through Mexican airspace, the C-17s had to take longer routes for flights aimed at Central and South America, further extending travel times significantly.
It is significant to note that Mexico and several other Latin American nations, such as Colombia and Venezuela, have denied permission for US military flights to land within their borders. Instead, these countries have opted to deploy their own planes or allowed deportees to utilize commercial airlines for their return. In January, Colombian President Gustavo Petro rejected the landing of two C-17 flights, which led to threats of tariffs from Trump. Subsequently, the White House announced that Colombia had agreed to accept all illegal migrants without restrictions. However, no C-17s were reported to have arrived in Colombia; the country instead utilized its own aircraft to transfer the deportees. In February, Venezuela also arranged for two commercial flights to retrieve 190 deported individuals, reversing years of resistance to accepting citizens who had unlawfully entered the United States.
