US Deports Indian Migrants: The Costly Military Strategy Behind Trump’s Crackdown

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US Deports 205 Indian Migrants on Military Plane: Cost, Symbolism, and Global Reactions

A United States military aircraft carrying 205 deported Indian nationals is en route to India, marking a significant step in President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown. The C-17 aircraft departed from San Antonio, Texas, around 3 am IST on Tuesday (February 4). Trump, who returned to power with a strong anti-immigration stance, has escalated efforts to deport undocumented migrants—including the unusual use of military transport planes.

Why Military Planes? The Cost Factor

Traditionally, deportations are handled via commercial charter flights operated by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, Trump’s administration has increasingly deployed military aircraft, a move that is both controversial and costly.

A Reuters report estimated that a recent military deportation flight to Guatemala cost approximately $4,675 per migrant—over five times the price of a one-way first-class ticket on a commercial airline. In contrast, ICE-chartered flights cost around $630 per person. The C-17 military aircraft, known for its massive operational expenses, costs about $28,500 per hour to operate, making deportation flights even more expensive.

The flight to India is the longest military deportation flight conducted so far. Similar flights have transported deportees to Guatemala, Peru, Honduras, and Ecuador. In one instance, Colombia outright refused to accept deportees via a military aircraft, forcing the US to revise its approach.

Trump’s Message Behind Military Deportations

Beyond logistics, the use of military planes serves a symbolic purpose. Trump has repeatedly characterized illegal immigration as an “invasion” and refers to undocumented migrants as “criminals” or “aliens.” The imagery of shackled migrants being loaded onto massive military aircraft aligns with his tough-on-immigration rhetoric.

Addressing Republican lawmakers, Trump recently boasted, “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…We’re respected again, after years of laughing at us like we’re stupid people.”

On January 24, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared images on social media showing handcuffed migrants being escorted onto a military plane. “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.

Trump has also emphasized swift deportations over lengthy detentions, stating, “I don’t want them sitting in camp for the next 20 years. I want them out, and the countries have got to take them back.”

Diplomatic and Regional Sensitivities

While Trump’s approach resonates with his supporters, it has sparked concerns in other countries. Several Latin American nations, in particular, view the use of military planes as a sensitive issue. Many leaders recall past US military interventions in the region, raising concerns over sovereignty.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has explicitly stated, “They can act within their borders. When it comes to Mexico, we defend our sovereignty and seek out dialogue so as to coordinate.” Similarly, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have criticized the use of military planes, with Petro even refusing to accept deportees unless they arrive via civilian aircraft.

As Trump continues his mass deportation push, the use of military transport highlights his administration’s forceful approach to illegal immigration—one that is costly, symbolic, and fraught with diplomatic implications.

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