U.S. Military Deportation Flights Continue Amid Tensions with Colombia
A U.S. military aircraft carrying 64 deported migrants lands in Guatemala, as tensions over deportations with Colombia and other countries persist.
A U.S. military transport plane carrying 64 deported migrants arrived in Guatemala on Monday, marking the third such flight to the country since the start of the U.S. military deportation program.
The flight, which departed from Texas, comes amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Colombia over the use of military aircraft for deportations.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the flights as inhumane and revoked permission for two U.S. C-17 planes to land in Colombia, leading to threats from President Donald Trump of severe tariffs and sanctions on the country.
However, Colombia later agreed to send its own planes to pick up deported migrants.
Guatemala, the only country currently accepting U.S. military deportation flights, appears to be the primary destination for such flights.
The Pentagon’s involvement in the deportation program follows Trump’s national emergency declaration on immigration, with the military assisting in transporting over 5,000 migrants from U.S. detention centers in El Paso and San Diego.
This marks the first use of U.S. military aircraft for deportations, although the military has previously been used for relocation purposes, such as during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Trump's administration continues to enforce strict immigration policies, including the use of military support for border security and restrictions on asylum and citizenship for certain individuals.
The flight, which departed from Texas, comes amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Colombia over the use of military aircraft for deportations.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the flights as inhumane and revoked permission for two U.S. C-17 planes to land in Colombia, leading to threats from President Donald Trump of severe tariffs and sanctions on the country.
However, Colombia later agreed to send its own planes to pick up deported migrants.
Guatemala, the only country currently accepting U.S. military deportation flights, appears to be the primary destination for such flights.
The Pentagon’s involvement in the deportation program follows Trump’s national emergency declaration on immigration, with the military assisting in transporting over 5,000 migrants from U.S. detention centers in El Paso and San Diego.
This marks the first use of U.S. military aircraft for deportations, although the military has previously been used for relocation purposes, such as during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Trump's administration continues to enforce strict immigration policies, including the use of military support for border security and restrictions on asylum and citizenship for certain individuals.
