Trump’s Deportation Flights Take Off: First Migrants Arrive In Guatemala Amid Controversy

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Two U.S. military planes carrying dozens of expelled migrants landed in Guatemala on Friday, according to authorities. However, officials did not clarify if these flights were part of President Donald Trump's newly launched deportation initiative.

The Guatemalan migration institute reported that the first flight, carrying 79 Guatemalans — 48 men and 31 women — arrived around midnight. A second plane landed Friday morning, but the number of passengers on board was not disclosed.

On Thursday, the White House announced that “538 illegal immigrant criminals” had been arrested, with hundreds already deported via military aircraft, calling it “the largest massive deportation operation in history.” However, the Guatemalan government did not confirm if any of these individuals were among the arrivals on Friday.

“These flights took place after Trump assumed office,” an official from the Guatemalan vice president’s office told AFP. A Pentagon source confirmed that two Department of Defense (DOD) aircraft conducted repatriation flights overnight.

Early Friday, the White House shared an image on X (formerly Twitter) showing shackled men being escorted onto a military aircraft with the caption: “Deportation flights have begun.”

The Trump administration’s deportation strategy stands in contrast to former President Joe Biden’s efforts. During fiscal year 2023, Biden’s administration deported approximately 270,000 people — the highest number in a single year during Trump’s first term.

Upon arrival, the deportees were taken to a reception center at an air force base in Guatemala City, away from the media.

President Trump has doubled down on his campaign promise to crack down on illegal immigration, launching his second term with swift executive actions. On his first day back in office, he declared a “national emergency” at the southern border, announced additional troop deployments, and pledged to deport “criminal aliens.”

The administration also reinstated the controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy, requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico until their U.S. immigration applications are processed. Additionally, it suspended an asylum program designed for individuals fleeing authoritarian regimes in Central and South America, leaving thousands stranded on the Mexican side of the border.

As the deportation flights continue, the policy is sparking debate on both sides of the border, with critics citing human rights concerns and supporters praising the administration’s tough stance on immigration.

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