This week, the Trump administration announced it will ramp up deportation flights to various nations, including one regular flight and eight additional trips to Mexico.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed these increased flights as part of the administration’s strategy to combat illegal immigration.
So far, over 142,000 individuals have been deported, including around 38,000 Mexican nationals. However, some conservatives argue for a more aggressive approach. During his tenure, former President Barack Obama deported almost 3 million individuals. Still, there are those who believe the GOP has sufficient time to address these challenges, especially since many stem from policies established during the Biden administration.
Simultaneously, the DHS highlighted that deportation flights are ongoing, occurring nearly every day, and offering various methods for individuals to be removed from the country, either voluntarily or through enforcement.
“We’ve identified illegal aliens from 150 countries during the Biden administration,” stated Stephen Miller, an advisor to Trump. “ICE will send planes to all parts of the world.”
“We send flights to Iraq, Yemen, Haiti, and Angola. ICE constantly sends planes everywhere. We find anyone who entered illegally,” he emphasized.
“Now that we’re focused on securing our borders, expect to see more resources directed towards the U.S. expulsion program,” he added.
Furthermore, the Trump administration is reportedly collaborating with leaders from countries like Angola and Equatorial Guinea to accept deported individuals who are not citizens of those nations. They are also contemplating deals with Benin, Eswatini, Libya, Moldova, and Rwanda.
Andrew Cerry, chairman of the Institute for Immigration Policy, commented that the approach of deporting individuals to unfamiliar countries sends a concerning message regarding immigration policies in the U.S.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed during a recent cabinet meeting that the administration is “actively searching for other countries willing to accept them from third countries.”
“We’re coordinating with other nations, expressing our desire to send some individuals to you, as a favor. The further from America, the better,” Rubio stated.
The federal government has also established a “long-term charter program” with Avelo Airlines, set to initiate deportation flights from Mesa, Arizona starting Monday.
