Posted on 01/26/2025 5:20:20 AM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com
GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA —
U.S. military planes carrying dozens of expelled migrants arrived in Guatemala, authorities said Friday, as President Donald Trump moved to crack down on illegal immigration.
A total of 265 Guatemalans arrived on three flights — two operated by the military, and one a charter, the Central American country's migration institute said, updating earlier figures.
Washington also sent four deportation flights to Mexico on Thursday, the White House press secretary said on X, despite multiple U.S. media reports that authorities there had turned at least one plane back.
The Mexican government has not confirmed either the arrival of flights or any agreement to receive a specific number of planes with deportees.
But Mexico's foreign ministry said Friday it was ready to work with Washington over the deportation of its citizens, saying the country would "always accept the arrival of Mexicans to our territory with open arms."
The flights came as the White House said it had arrested more than 1,000 people in two days with hundreds deported by military aircraft, saying that "the largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway."
Some 538 illegal immigrant "criminals" were arrested Thursday, it said, followed by another 593 on Friday.
By comparison, under Trump's predecessor Joe Biden deportation flights were carried out regularly, with a total of 270,000 deportations in 2024 — a 10-year record — and 113,400 arrests, making an average of 310 per day.
'Bad, hard criminals'
The Guatemalan government did not confirm whether any of the migrants arrested this week were among the deportees that arrived Friday.
"These are flights that took place after Trump took office," an official in the Guatemalan vice president's office told AFP.
A Pentagon source told AFP that "overnight, two DOD (Department of Defense) aircraft conducted repatriation flights from the U.S. to Guatemala."
Early Friday the White House posted an image on X of men in shackles being marched into a military aircraft, with the caption: "Deportation flights have begun."
Trump told reporters that the flights were to get "the bad, hard criminals out."
"Murderers, people that have been as bad as you get. As bad as anybody you've seen," he said.
Friday's deportees were taken to a reception center at an air force base in Guatemala's capital, away from the media.
Crackdown a campaign promise
Trump promised a crackdown on illegal immigration during the election campaign and began his second term with a flurry of executive actions aimed at overhauling entry to the United States.
On his first day in office, he signed orders declaring a "national emergency" at the southern border and announced the deployment of more troops to the area while vowing to deport "criminal aliens."
His administration said it would also reinstate a "Remain in Mexico" policy under which people who apply to enter the United States from Mexico must remain there until their application has been decided.
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said Friday on X that program had been reinstated, and that Mexico had deployed some 30,000 National Guard troops to its border.
The Mexican foreign ministry did not confirm either claim in its statement.
The White House has also halted an asylum program for people fleeing authoritarian regimes in Central and South America, leaving thousands of people stranded on the Mexican side of the border.
Keep it up, ignore the media, ignore the corrupt judges, MAGA.
Deport Mayorkas!
THIS IS A GREAT DAY
A total of 265 Guatemalans arrived on three flights —why not waste for a plane load seems like a waste of money and resources
“A total of 265 Guatemalans arrived on three flights”
Ridiculous, use gulags and troop ships.
Because recording the visible start was important.
Under Biden/Obama there were deportations via chartered airplanes. So these charter companies were very happy.
Trump is greatly improving this by using US Military aircraft...... If the deporting gets to be too much, then Trump admin will use chartered flights too
US Military aircraft is great PR and makes the Trump administration look 1000% more serious about mass deportations.
Use football stadiums as holding centers. Third world coup generals use soccer stadiums.
Football season will be down to 2 teams tomorrow.
I would attack Venezuela. they’re military will not fight for Maduro. Then release the gang bangers there without any processing.
We should be billing these countries for cost of deportation......jet fuel ain’t cheap ya know.
A total of 265 Guatemalans arrived on three flights —why not waste for a plane load seems like a waste of money and resources
These dudes are serious bad guys and they are very dangerous.
Not sure ICE wants to fill even a C-17 with too many of these because if they got out of control it could get real ugly.
Like the movie Snakes on A Plane for real.
“Because recording the visible start was important.”
Of course! Gotta start off with a bigger bang and large Military transports flying them back home to Mexico and Guatemala and so on.
Added plus — Violent deportations can be shackled up (like the ConAir movie) on US Military fights. Unlike the private chartered deportation flights of the Biden/Obama administration. Yes, this clown show did some deporting.
I think VOA must have it backwards. Biden was bringing criminals INTO the country, not out! Those were probably empty flights going back to pick up more criminals.
“By comparison, under Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden deportation flights were carried out regularly, with a total of 270,000 deportations in 2024 — a 10-year record — and 113,400 arrests, making an average of 310 per day.”
I never heard this. Is it true?
Were they stamped “return to sender”.
‘...The White House has also halted an asylum program for people fleeing authoritarian regimes in Central and South America, leaving thousands of people stranded on the Mexican side of the border...’
What irks me is these people vote themselves the worst possible leadership or stand by and tolerate that stuff, then want asylum HERE!
Yes, many federal officers on each flight and other security measures that mean less room for deportees. These are hardened criminals who really don’t want to go back where they came from.
So they arrested congress?
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