US Halts Use of Military Aircraft for Deporting Illegal Immigrants

The Trump administration has halted the use of military aircraft for deporting illegal immigrants to US military facilities in Guantanamo Bay and other destinations, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.

Military officials cited the high costs associated with using military planes compared to civilian deportation flights as the primary reason for the decision.

The administration initially began using military aircraft for deportation flights in January, shortly after taking office, as part of a broader effort to signal a tougher stance on illegal immigration.

An analysis by The Wall Street Journal revealed that some flights transported small groups of immigrants to Guantanamo Bay at an estimated cost of at least $20,000 per person.

These operations were significantly more expensive than traditional deportation methods managed by the Department of Homeland Security.

Following this policy shift, deportations will revert to civilian flights, which have historically been the primary method for transporting undocumented immigrants out of the country.