The US military has made over $21 million worth of flights to deport migrants out of the United States in President Donald Trump’s second term, data released by the Pentagon on Monday reported. The Trump administration continues its pursuit of stemming illegal immigration, an effort that involves a range of controversial tactics, including raids, arrests, and the use of military assets along the US-Mexico border. The publication of these statistics brings to light the high expense of military participation in immigration enforcement.
Flights and Expenses in the US
During the period between January 20 and April 8, US Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) conducted 46 flights on military planes solely for migrant deportation operations. The command released specific information regarding the flights in reply to a string of questions by Senator Elizabeth Warren. Based on TRANSCOM, the flights equaled a total of 802.5 flight hours, and each flight was an average of $26,277 per hour. The total cost of the flights for this period reached over $21 million.
Senator Warren’s Response
Senator Warren, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed her indignation at the use of military assets for political motives. She stated, “Every American should be outraged by Donald Trump wasting military resources to pay for his political stunts that do not make us safer.” Warren also emphasized that US troops should not engage in what she described as an abuse of power. The Democratic legislator argued that the military must focus on its core mandate of defending the country rather than being used for unrelated purposes.
Aggressive Approach of US President Trump’s Administration
The Trump administration’s belligerent immigration policy has been a central part of the previous president’s political platform. The administration has sent thousands of troops to the US-Mexico border, granting them extraordinary authority to hold migrants in specific zones. The government has implemented these measures as part of a wider policy aimed at reducing illegal migration, but critics have widely criticized them for their expense, efficacy, and impact on military personnel.
Controversy and Criticism
These military missions, along with the heavy economic burden, have been subject to severe criticism by lawmakers and human rights activists. The critics opine that employing military assets on deportation operations negates the original mission of the military and creates an unfair burden on US soldiers. Additionally, the continuing expenses of such missions have also questioned the appropriateness of utilizing government spending for political reasons, as well as the wider consequences of employing the use of the military in law enforcement within the country.
