Trump’s Military Aircraft Deportations Cost Thousands Of Dollars More Than ICE Flights

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – The use of military aircraft for deportations under U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration policies has raised concerns about the high operational costs. A flight to Guatemala on January 27 cost approximately $4,675 per migrant, far exceeding the cost of ICE-chartered flights, which are typically around $630 per person, Reuters said in a report.

Irrespective of whether there is agreement on the policy, Trump’s recent deployment of military flights for deportations, which began under his national emergency declaration on immigration, has sparked quiet bipartisan concerns over the efficiency of the process.  Six flights have already taken migrants to Latin America, including four to Guatemala, with two flights to Colombia being declined.

A U.S. official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, noted that operating a C-17 military transport aircraft costs about $28,500 per hour. The round-trip flight to Guatemala took 10.5 hours, carrying 64 deportees.

ICE typically uses commercial aircraft for deportations, with a 2023 report showing an average cost of $630 per deportee for flights on aircraft like Boeing 737s.

The Pentagon has not responded to requests for comment, but plans to use military aircraft for deportations of more than 5,000 migrants from detention centers in El Paso and San Diego.