The Trump administration has suspended the use of military aircraft for deporting migrants, citing high costs and inefficiencies, according to defense officials, as reported by Wall street journal. The last such flight took place on March 1, and no further flights are currently scheduled, officials confirmed.
Initially implemented as part of President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, the use of military flights was intended to send a strong message regarding the administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously stated, “The message is clear: If you break the law, if you are a criminal, you can find your way at Guantanamo Bay… You don’t want to be at Guantanamo Bay.”
Since the policy’s implementation, the administration has used C-17 and C-130 military aircraft for approximately 42 deportation flights to countries including India, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, Honduras, and Panama, as well as to Guantanamo Bay. However, these flights proved costly, with deportation flights to India costing $3 million each and some Guantanamo flights costing $20,000 per migrant.
Comparatively, standard US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) flights on civilian aircraft cost between $8,500 and $17,000 per flight hour, while a C-17 military aircraft costs $28,500 per hour, according to US Transportation Command. Additionally, restrictions on US military aircraft entering Mexico’s airspace have further increased travel time and expenses.
Some Latin American countries have refused to accept deported migrants via US military flights. In January, Colombian President Gustavo Petro denied entry to two C-17 flights, leading Trump to threaten tariffs. While the White House later announced that Colombia had agreed to accept deportees, no US military aircraft have landed there. Instead, Colombia and Venezuela have used their own commercial flights to transport deported citizens.
Officials indicated that the suspension of military deportation flights could be extended or made permanent, though no final decision has been announced.
