Air Force C-17s Conduct First Deportation Flights to Guatemala
Source: Air & Space Forces
Air Force C-17s Conduct First Deportation Flights to Guatemala
Immigrants detained by Customs and Border Protection are led onto a U.S. Air Force C-17. Image from Karoline Leavitt/X
Jan. 24, 2025 By Chris Gordon
The U.S. Air Force began deportation flights of people held in detention by Customs and Border Protection, U.S. officials said on Jan. 24, in a move ordered by President Donald Trump as part of a sweeping promise to crack down on illegal immigration and more tightly police the southern border.
One C-17 took off from Biggs Army Air Field, Texas, and another C-17 took off from Tucson, Ariz., on the evening of Jan. 23, a defense official told Air & Space Forces Magazine. The aircraft headed to Guatemala in Central America, two defense officials added.
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The Pentagon has ordered 1,500 Active-Duty troops to the southern border to join 2,500 troops already based there. The goal is to take "complete operational control of the southern border of the United States," Acting Secretary of Defense Robert Salesse said in a Jan. 23 statement. ... "This is just the beginning," Salesses said at the time.
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement flights carrying detained migrants are common occurrences, often referred to as “removal flights” by ICE. Prior to this, however, officials used civil or commercial aircraft.
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Read more: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-c-17s-first-deportation-flights-guatemala/
Edited to add: or maybe not.
It turns out that the “new” part is the use of military aircraft. The deportations themselves are not at all newsworthy.
Thanks to DD for pointing this out. I removed this purely propaganda quote from Karoline Leavitt:
"Deportation flights have begun," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on social media. "President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the entire world: if you illegally enter the United States of America, you will face severe consequences."
= new reply since forum marked as read
