The Trump administration has commenced large-scale deportation flights using military aircraft, marking a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy.
Tucson, Arizona, and Fort Bliss, Texas, have become central hubs for these operations, which began just four days after President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
In an announcement on Friday, the White House confirmed the start of deportation flights, stating in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “Deportation flights have begun.”
Just as he promised, President Trump is sending a strong message to the world: those who enter the United States illegally will face serious consequences. pic.twitter.com/yqgtF1RX6K
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 24, 2025
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also shared photos of the operation, showing military C-17 cargo planes being used to transport deportees.
Deportation flights have begun.
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. pic.twitter.com/CTlG8MRcY1
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 24, 2025
By Friday, over 500 illegal immigrants, including gang members, had already been deported, according to administration officials.
The Trump administration has also revoked parole status for asylum seekers from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua, allowing these individuals to be arrested and deported without court hearings for their asylum claims.
“This is a major departure from the Biden-Harris administration’s policy of processing illegal aliens at regional centers in South America and flying them into the United States,” CBS News reported.
During Biden’s tenure, approximately 320,000 illegal immigrants were facilitated into at least 43 airports across the U.S. in 2023 alone, according to The Gateway Pundit.
Press Secretary Leavitt emphasized the administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws, stating, “The Trump Administration also deported hundreds of illegal immigrant criminals via military aircraft. The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway.”
The efforts are part of a broader strategy led by Border Czar Tom Homan, who announced that raids targeting violent offenders had begun earlier this week.
By the end of Trump’s first full day in office, over 300 violent offenders, including individuals charged with murder and child exploitation, had been arrested.
Homan has indicated that the number of arrests and deportations will continue to rise in the coming weeks.
Speaking to ABC News host Martha Raddatz, Homan said, “You’re going to see the number steadily increase, the number of arrests nationwide.”
Martha Raddatz: Will the US military be deporting illegal immigrants every single day of Trump’s presidency?
Tom Homan: Yes.
Raddatz: So is this what we will be seeing every single day? The president promised millions.
Homan: Yes.
Raddatz: The estimates of those who have been… pic.twitter.com/nTQowpTCS2
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 26, 2025
The administration’s immigration crackdown also includes additional security measures at the U.S.-Mexico border. President Trump has deployed 1,500 additional troops to the southern border, adding to the thousands already stationed there.
The White House shared footage on Friday showing Marines working to secure the border.
The US Marine Corps Is On The Border Assisting CBP With The Mission To Secure America
Promise Made –> Promise KEPT! pic.twitter.com/t384DH1FDl
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 24, 2025
The Biden-Harris administration’s previous approach to immigration, which involved processing and relocating illegal immigrants through regional centers, has been heavily criticized by Trump and his allies as lenient.
The new administration’s policies represent a sharp departure, aiming to enforce stricter immigration laws and expedite deportations.
The use of military aircraft for deportation operations underscores the scale and urgency of the administration’s efforts to address illegal immigration.
As these policies continue to unfold, they signal a return to the Trump administration’s hardline stance on border security and immigration enforcement.
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