US Deportation Flights Begin as Immigration Crackdown Intensifies

GUATEMALA CITY – The United States deported dozens of migrants to Guatemala on Friday, with three flights — two military and one charter — carrying 265 Guatemalans, according to the country’s migration institute. This follows a broader effort by the Trump administration to curb illegal immigration. Four deportation flights also arrived in Mexico on Thursday, the White House press secretary stated on X, though reports indicated that Mexican authorities turned at least one plane back. Mexico’s foreign ministry confirmed its willingness to work with the U.S. but did not disclose any specific agreements. The White House described the current deportation effort as “the largest massive deportation operation in history.” Over two days, authorities reportedly arrested 1,131 individuals, including 538 on Thursday and 593 on Friday.

Focus on Criminal Deportees

Images released by the White House showed migrants in shackles being led onto a military plane. President Trump said the flights aimed to remove “bad, hard criminals,” including murderers. However, Guatemalan authorities did not confirm whether those deported included the individuals arrested earlier in the week. The deportees were received at a centre at Guatemala’s air force base, away from media coverage.

Trump Administration’s Immigration Policies

The deportation efforts align with President Trump’s election pledge to intensify immigration controls. Within days of starting his second term, Trump declared a “national emergency” at the southern border, deployed additional troops, and reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy. This policy requires asylum applicants to stay in Mexico while their cases are processed. The administration also halted asylum programs for individuals fleeing authoritarian regimes in Central and South America, leaving thousands stranded at the border. While the White House claimed Mexico had deployed 30,000 National Guard troops to its borders, this has not been confirmed by Mexican authorities. Trump’s aggressive stance on immigration marks a continuation of stricter border policies compared to his predecessor, Joe Biden, under whom 270,000 deportations were recorded in 2024 — a 10-year high.