The Trump administration has begun deporting undocumented immigrants but faces a shortage of aircraft. Senior White House official Stephen Miller says ICE needs more planes to speed up the process. The administration is looking to secure aircraft from various sources, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and commercial charter companies.
The Trump administration has initiated its promised deportations of undocumented immigrants, but faces a key challenge: a lack of sufficient aircraft to expedite the process. Senior Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller revealed on Friday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) has been hindered in its deportation efforts due to this shortage.
The administration is actively seeking to secure aircraft from various sources, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Defense (DOD), and commercial charter options, according to Bloomberg. ICE raids commenced as early as Tuesday, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt released photos on Friday morning depicting individuals boarding C-17s, announcing the commencement of deportation flights. One photograph, captured at Biggs Army Airfield at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, showcased a flight departing for Guatemala on Thursday at 5 p.m. local time. Customs and Border Protection sources divulged to Fox News that the plane in the image transported 80 individuals.A third flight, intended for Mexico, was canceled after Mexico declined permission for landing, a State Department official disclosed to Fox News. However, Miller indicated that the administration aims to amplify these operations and is exploring sourcing aircraft from various government agencies and commercial providers to achieve this goal. 'Border czar' Tom Homan stated on ABC News that the administration will utilize military aircraft daily to facilitate these deportations. On Thursday, approximately 2,000 undocumented immigrants were deported to Mexico, both via land and air transport. Additionally, Mexico detained roughly 5,000 migrants within its borders, according to Fox News. When questioned about the need for more aircraft, Leavitt emphasized that the Trump administration is employing both military and non-military aircraft to accomplish this mission. The administration has implemented numerous measures to fortify the border, including deploying military personnel, resuming wall construction, and discontinuing Biden-era parole programs. The Department of Homeland Security has issued a series of memos since President Donald Trump's inauguration, directing reviews of parole programs and expanding the authority of officials to swiftly deport recently arrived undocumented immigrants from the U.S. These memos have been signed by Acting Secretary Benjamine Huffman. Furthermore, Miller stated that the administration would leverage various tools to remove individuals granted humanitarian parole to enter the country when they lacked otherwise permissible entry. 'There’s digital footprints, there’s financial footprints, there’s routine law enforcement intelligence,' he said. 'There’s a wide array of tools we have to identify and remove those individuals.' Bloomberg reports that former President Joe Biden refrained from utilizing military aircraft, opting instead for commercial aircraft for deportations during his administration
DEPORTATIONS IMMIGRATION TRUMP ADMINISTRATION STEPHEN MILLER ICE MILITARY AIRCRAFT BORDER SECURITY
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