US begins using military planes to deport immigrants

(CLO) US military C-17 aircraft began flying detained illegal immigrants out of the country on Friday, following orders from President Donald Trump.

A US official said two military planes, each carrying about 80 migrants, had flown from the US to Guatemala. "Guatemala and the United States are committed to ending illegal migration and strengthening border security, starting with two flights today," the US State Department said.

In the past, US military aircraft have been used to evacuate people from one country to another, such as during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. This is the first time in recent times that US military aircraft have been used to transport migrants out of the US, an official said.

Afghan migrants arrive in the US on a C-17 plane. Photo: CC

On his first day in office, Trump declared a national emergency over illegal immigration, assigned the US military to assist with border security, issued a broad asylum ban and took steps to restrict citizenship for children born on US soil.

His January 20 executive order directed the Pentagon to send the number of troops necessary to gain “full operational control of the southern border of the United States.”

“The deportation flights have begun,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X.

The Pentagon said the US military will provide flights to deport more than 5,000 immigrants detained by US authorities in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California.

Earlier this week, the Trump administration said the US military would deploy 1,500 additional active-duty troops to the border with Mexico.

US officials say the military is preparing to send a second wave of troops to the border with Mexico as early as next week, potentially including troops from the 82nd Airborne Division.

Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division are typically prepared to deploy on short notice to respond to crises around the world, often in conflict zones rather than on the U.S. border with Mexico.

Huy Anh (according to USM, Pentagon, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/my-bat-dau-su-dung-may-bay-quan-su-truc-xuat-nguoi-nhap-cu-post331924.html