Deportation of migrants using military aircraft has begun, White House press secretary says

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared images Friday of migrants lined up, handcuffed and boarding a military aircraft, stating: “Deportation flights have begun.”

“President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the entire world: if you illegally enter the United States of America, you will face severe consequences,” she wrote in her post on X.

Migrants are generally handcuffed before boarding deportation flights. The use of military aircrafts to send them to their origin country, however, is notable. It’s unclear where the migrants were from, but they are believed to be recent border crossers who were in Border Patrol custody.

The first flights left from Biggs Army Airfield on Thursday evening, according to an official with the Department of Homeland Security.

Approximately 75-80 Guatemalans were repatriated, the source said. The migrants recently crossed the border and were in Border Patrol custody.