Washington: The Trump administration has pressed forward with its controversial use of military aircraft for deportations, as a U.S. Air Force C-17 transport plane carrying deported migrants landed in Guatemala on Monday, according to officials. This development comes amid escalating tensions with Colombia over its refusal to allow similar flights.
Deportation Flights and Diplomatic Tensions
Two U.S. officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the aircraft, departing from Texas, landed in Guatemala with 64 individuals on board. A Guatemalan official corroborated this, while Reuters was the first to report the flight.
This marks the third military deportation flight to Guatemala since the initiative began last week. Thus far, Guatemala remains the sole country accepting such flights.
Meanwhile, Colombia has openly opposed the policy. On Sunday, President Gustavo Petro condemned the flights as “inhumane” and revoked landing rights for two C-17 aircraft that had already departed from California. In response, former President Donald Trump swiftly threatened severe economic measures, including tariffs and sanctions, against Colombia.
Trump, speaking to Republican lawmakers at his Doral golf club, framed the situation as a win for his administration. “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 stated to applause.
On Monday, however, Colombia announced that it would send its air force planes to the United States to collect its deported nationals. The move, which Colombia called a “win-win,” raised doubts about White House claims that Bogota had yielded to Trump’s demands.
Broader Implications
A potential trade conflict with Colombia could have significant economic consequences, given the strong bilateral trade relationship. In 2023, trade between the two countries amounted to $33.8 billion, supported by a 2006 free trade agreement. Colombia counts the United States as its largest trading partner.
Trump’s use of military aircraft for deportations forms part of a broader strategy stemming from his national emergency declaration on immigration. The Pentagon has committed to providing transportation for the deportation of over 5,000 migrants detained in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California.
Historical First
While U.S. military aircraft have been utilized in past humanitarian and evacuation missions—such as during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal—this marks the first instance in recent memory of military planes being employed for deportation purposes.
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Trump defended the unprecedented move, claiming it reflects a shift in how the United States is perceived globally. “We’re respected again, after years of laughing at us, like we’re stupid people,” he said during his address.
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Mixed Reactions
Critics, including human rights advocates and foreign leaders, have decried the policy as excessive and dehumanizing. However, supporters argue it demonstrates a firm stance on immigration and sends a clear message to other nations about their responsibility to accept their deported citizens.
