Trump Administration Suspends Deportations Using Military Aircraft Due to High Costs
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – The Trump administration has suspended transporting illegal migrants using military aircraft to Guantanamo Bay or other nations, citing high costs and inefficiencies, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Since President Trump’s second term began with a focus on curbing illegal immigration, his administration initially utilized military aircraft for deporting migrants, a task usually managed by the Department of Homeland Security.
Last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the administration’s strict stance last week, stating, “The message is clear: If you break the law, if you are a criminal, you can find your way at Guantanamo Bay,” during his visit to Guantanamo Bay where he observed migrants arriving on a C-130 aircraft. He added, “You don’t want to be at Guantanamo Bay.”
However, the last such flight occurred on March 1, and the Pentagon has confirmed no further flights are scheduled.
The suspension of military deportation flights, which aimed to emphasize a strict immigration stance, might become a permanent policy, officials indicated.
According to flight-tracking data, the Trump administration used military C-17 and C-130 aircraft for approximately 30 and a dozen migrant flights, respectively, to destinations including India, Guatemala, and Guantanamo Bay.
However, these military flights were less efficient and more expensive than typical civilian deportation flights, with longer routes and higher costs per migrant.
For example, three flights to India cost $3 million each, and some flights to Guantanamo carried migrants at a cost of at least $20,000 each, according to WSJ.
According to U.S. Transportation Command, flying a C-17, typically used for heavy cargo and troops, costs $28,500 per hour.
In contrast, a standard U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) flight costs about $8,500 per hour, with former ICE officials estimating the cost at $17,000 per hour for international trips, WSJ reported.
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