Military deportation flights to Guatemala cost way more than a first class ticket
By bellecarter // 2025-02-05
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  • The use of U.S. military aircraft for deporting migrants is significantly more expensive than commercial alternatives, with a reported cost of $4,675 per migrant, totaling around $299,250 for a single flight to Guatemala.
  • This approach marks an unprecedented shift in U.S. immigration policy, diverging from the traditional use of cost-effective commercial charter flights, and is part of President Donald Trump's broader national emergency declaration on immigration.
  • The policy has led to diplomatic tensions, as exemplified by Colombia's refusal to allow U.S. military planes to land, opting instead to send its own planes to collect migrants, highlighting unease among Latin American countries.
  • Trump defended the policy, emphasizing its historical significance and warning that countries refusing to cooperate would face economic consequences, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced the message of severe consequences for illegal entry.
  • The policy raises concerns about the long-term impact on U.S. relations with Latin American countries, as the high costs and logistical challenges may lead to decreased cooperation on immigration matters.
President Donald Trump's recent decision to use military aircraft for deporting migrants has raised eyebrows and questions about the financial and diplomatic implications of the policy. On Monday, Jan. 27, a U.S. military flight to Guatemala reportedly cost at least $4,675 per migrant, a figure that dwarfs the cost of commercial alternatives and has drawn criticism from various officials and experts. The use of U.S. military aircraft for deportation flights is unprecedented and comes with a hefty price tag. According to data provided by U.S. and Guatemalan officials, the cost of operating a C-17 military transport aircraft for the flight to Guatemala was approximately $28,500 per hour. With the roundtrip taking about 10.5 hours, the total cost for the flight was around $299,250. With 64 migrants on board, the per-person cost amounted to $4,675. This figure is more than five times the cost of a one-way first-class ticket on American Airlines from El Paso, Texas, to Guatemala, which is $853. It is also significantly higher than the cost of commercial charter flights typically used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to ICE's 2021 data, the cost for "IceAir" flights is $8,577 per flight hour, and a former ICE official noted that the cost has risen slightly since 2023, with deportation flights costing $17,000 per flight hour for 135 deportees, averaging about $630 per person.

Diplomatic standoff

The use of military aircraft for deportations has not only raised financial concerns but also led to diplomatic tensions. Colombia, for instance, refused to allow two U.S. C-17 cargo aircraft to land, opting instead to send its planes to collect migrants after a standoff with the Trump administration. This refusal underscores the growing unease among some Latin American countries regarding the U.S. approach to immigration. (Related: Mexico refuses to allow U.S. military planes deporting migrants to land in the country.) Trump, speaking at his Doral golf club to Republican lawmakers, defended his decision, stating, "For the first time in history, we are locating and loading illegal aliens into military aircraft and flying them back to the places from which they came." He vowed that the practice would continue and warned that countries refusing to cooperate would "pay a high economic price." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed this sentiment, posting images of migrants boarding a C-17 and declaring, "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." The use of military aircraft for deportations is a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy and marks a departure from previous administrations' approaches. Historically, deportations have been carried out using commercial charter flights, which are more cost-effective and less likely to provoke diplomatic tensions. The current policy is part of Trump's broader national emergency declaration on immigration, which he announced last week. This declaration has allowed the administration to allocate additional resources to border security and deportation efforts. However, it has also drawn criticism from immigration advocates and some lawmakers who argue that it is an overreach of executive power and an unnecessary escalation of immigration enforcement. The use of military aircraft for deportations also raises questions about the long-term implications for U.S. relations with Latin American countries. The diplomatic standoff with Colombia is just one example of the potential fallout from this policy. As more countries become aware of the high costs and logistical challenges associated with military deportations, they may be less willing to cooperate with the U.S. on immigration matters. Trump.news has more stories on the president's illegal immigration policies. Watch the video below that talks about the Maryland mayor taking heat over vows to resist Trump deportation efforts. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

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