The U.S. continued its controversial military deportation flights on Monday, with a planeload of migrants landing in Guatemala as President Donald Trump pressed forward with his hardline immigration policies. The move followed a tense standoff with Colombia, which refused to allow U.S. military aircraft to land, escalating trade tensions.
Two U.S. officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the military transport plane, a C-17, carried 64 migrants and arrived in Guatemala on Monday afternoon after departing from Texas. A Guatemalan official corroborated the report.
This marks the third successful military deportation flight to Guatemala since the program’s inception last week. Guatemala remains the only country so far to accept migrants via U.S. military aircraft.
Tensions flared Sunday when Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the deportation flights as inhumane and blocked two C-17 planes from landing after their departure from California. Trump responded by threatening severe tariffs and sanctions, emphasizing that nations refusing to accept deported individuals would face steep economic consequences.
Colombia, heavily reliant on trade with the United States, issued a conciliatory statement Sunday evening to de-escalate the situation. The two nations have significant economic ties, with a 2006 free trade agreement facilitating $33.8 billion in trade in 2023, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Meanwhile, Bogota announced plans to send Colombian air force planes to retrieve its nationals from the U.S., challenging Trump’s assertion that Colombia had capitulated to his demands.
Speaking to Republican lawmakers at his Doral golf club on Monday, Trump hailed the use of military aircraft for deportations as a landmark achievement in his immigration crackdown.
“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,” Trump said, receiving applause from the audience. “We’re respected again, after years of laughing at us, like we’re stupid people.”
The Pentagon has committed to providing flights for the deportation of more than 5,000 migrants currently held in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California. This deployment follows Trump’s national emergency declaration on immigration last week.
The use of military aircraft for deportation flights is unprecedented, officials say, marking a significant departure from past practices. While military aircraft have been employed for evacuations and relocations, such as during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, this is the first instance of their use for deporting migrants.
Critics, including Colombian President Petro, have labeled the flights as inhumane, fueling debate over Trump’s broader immigration policies. These policies include deploying military personnel to the border, restricting asylum applications, and attempting to limit birthright citizenship.
Despite the backlash, Trump has vowed to continue using military resources to enforce his immigration agenda, warning other nations of potential economic retaliation should they refuse to accept deported individuals.
