By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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New pictures of deportation flights show Donald Trump "is sending a strong and clear message to the entire world," the White House press secretary has said.
Karoline Leavitt said Friday that "deportation flights have begun," releasing two photos of people boarding a military aircraft that she said told: "if you illegally enter the United States of America, you will face severe consequences."
Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for further comment via email.
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Why It Matters
The new Trump administration has vowed to conduct the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history.
The unauthorized immigrant population in the U.S stood at 11 million in 2022, according to a July 2024 report by think tank the Pew Research Center which made estimates based on the 2022 American Community Survey, the most recent available.
Americans largely support Trump's mass deportation plans, but are divided on how they should be carried out.
A *New York Times/*Ipsos poll, which surveyed 2,128 adults from January 2 to 10, suggested 55 percent strongly or somewhat supported such plans. Eighty-eight percent supported "Deporting immigrant who are here illegally and have criminal records." The poll had a margin of error of 2.6 percentage points in either direction.
A Reuters/Ipses poll, which surveyed 1,077 adults on January 20 and 21, suggested 39 percent agreed "illegal immigrants should be arrested and put in detention camps while awaiting deportation hearings," comapred to 42 percent who disagreed. The online poll had a margin of error of about 4 percentage points.
What to Know
It remains unknown at this stage who was boarding the military flights or where the images were taken.
One of the two photos, released on X, formerly Twitter, was taken at Biggs Army Airfield at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, Fox News reported, citing U.S. Customs and Border Protection sources. The outlet said the plane had had a maximum capacity of 80 and was bound for Guatemala. Newsweek is working to verify further details.
The newly released pictures appear to show men in shacklings.
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have apprehended 538 undocumented immigrants, according to a January 23 update from the agency.
The Pentagon has said it will provide airlift support for DHS-operated flights to deport more than 5,000 individuals detained by Customs and Border Protection agents near San Diego and El Paso. It includes two C-130 Hercules and two C-17 Globemaster aircraft as well as UH-72 Lakota military helicopters, the Defense Department said.
Deportation flights to lcoations such as Haiti and China, were regularly carried out under former President Joe Biden, but new Trump's administration wants to go further,
Some business leaders are concerned with the economic impact of Trump's flagship immigration policy. The mass removal policy could impose a staggering one-time cost of $315 billion on the U.S., according to the American Immigration Council. Deporting 1 million people every year could cost up to $88 billion annually.
What People Are Saying
Fox News reporter Brooke Taylor said in a post on X: "DOD has said they're aiming to start with deporting 5,000 illegal migrants in CBP custody in El Paso and San Diego sectors."
Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka said in a statement: "Today, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided a local establishment in the City of Newark, detaining undocumented residents as well as citizens, without producing a warrant. One of the detainees is a U.S. military veteran who suffered the indignity of having the legitimacy of his military documentation questioned. This egregious act is in plain violation of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees 'the right of the people be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures....'
"Newark will not stand by idly while people are being unlawfully terrorized. I will be holding a press conference in alliance with partners ready and willing to defend and protect civil and human rights. Details to come."
What Happens Next
ICE raids and deportations are expected to continue at pace under Trump's administration.
President Trump issued an executive order on January 20 that vowed the government will "take all appropriate action to enable the Director of [ICE], the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to set priorities for their agencies that protect the public safety and national security interests of the American people, including by ensuring the successful enforcement of final orders of removal."
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