On Friday morning, the White House confirmed that “deportation flights have begun,” releasing images of groups of individuals being escorted onto military planes to be removed from the country.
“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,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on X, sharing two photos of the people boarding the planes.
The timing of the photos, the locations where the deportations were taking place, and the destinations of the flights were not disclosed.
Leavitt further emphasized that “the Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals including a suspected terrorist, four members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and several illegals convicted of sex crimes against minors.”
“The Trump Administration also deported hundreds of illegal immigrant criminals via military aircraft,” she continued. “The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway. Promises made. Promises kept.”
According to federal data, between midnight on Tuesday and 9 a.m. on Wednesday, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations detained more than 460 individuals believed to be living in the U.S. illegally, Fox News reported.
The detainees allegedly had criminal backgrounds that included charges such as robbery, sexual assault, burglary, aggravated assault, drug-related offenses, weapons charges, resisting arrest, and domestic violence.
Foreign nationals from Afghanistan, Angola, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Senegal, and Venezuela were reportedly among those arrested.
President Donald Trump had previously announced that U.S. military planes would be used for the deportation flights, as reported by MSN.
The Pentagon is deploying four C-17 and C-130 aircraft to facilitate the removal of migrants as part of the president’s comprehensive plan to address the crisis at the southern border.
The State Department is handling the necessary diplomatic clearances, while the Department of Homeland Security is providing in-flight law enforcement. Approximately 5,400 migrants are expected to be deported in the initial phase of this operation.
Additionally, the Pentagon has deployed 1,500 active-duty troops to the border, supplementing the 2,500 already stationed there. This has sparked criticism from opponents who argue that using military resources for deportation flights raises both ethical and legal concerns.
The administration, however, maintains that the deportations are essential to securing the border.
{Matzav.com}