Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration has initiated a sweeping crackdown on immigration, fulfilling one of the president’s key campaign promises. Among the measures being implemented are the use of U.S. Air Force planes for deportation flights and the deployment of an additional 1,500 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, DW News reported.
The deportation flights, which include military cargo planes, represent a shift from previous practices where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) primarily relied on chartered planes. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) flight, carrying 80 deported migrants, recently departed for Guatemala City. Additional flights are planned from Arizona and California, according to DHS officials.
These actions follow President Trump’s executive orders to tighten immigration control, including bolstering deportation efforts and enhancing border security. The Department of Defense has confirmed its support by providing aircraft to assist in the transportation of deported individuals.
As deportation flights increase, thousands of migrants remain stranded at the U.S.-Mexico border, facing uncertainty. Many had hoped to gain asylum in the United States but are now caught in the crossfire of tightened immigration policies.
Local authorities in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, have begun setting up shelters to prepare for the arrival of deported migrants. While these shelters can house thousands, humanitarian organizations express concerns about their ability to handle the anticipated influx. Many migrants, including Venezuelans and Cubans, face difficult decisions: return to unsafe conditions in their home countries, remain in limbo in Mexico, or risk crossing the border irregularly.
In addition to deportations, President Trump has signed an executive order building on a previous directive issued earlier this week, suspending refugee resettlement in the United States for at least four months. This decision has left thousands of Afghan refugees, many of whom assisted U.S. forces during the Afghanistan conflict, stranded in Pakistan.
Afghan families, fearing persecution under Taliban rule, have made desperate pleas to the U.S. government to reconsider. “Our patience has run out. We’ve lost everything,” said one refugee, highlighting the dire situation for those awaiting resettlement.
The suspension comes amid criticism that the U.S. is retreating from its long-held reputation as a sanctuary for those fleeing persecution.
The Trump administration’s actions are already drawing legal scrutiny. Deploying troops to the border for domestic law enforcement raises constitutional concerns, and the suspension of federal funding for sanctuary cities is expected to face challenges in court. Sanctuary jurisdictions, which limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities, remain defiant despite threats from the administration.
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Immigration advocates warn that the administration’s policies are creating a humanitarian crisis. “There’s no clear pathway for asylum seekers,” said a representative from an NGO in El Paso, Texas.
As deportation flights continue and troops arrive at the border, the future remains uncertain for the thousands of migrants affected by these policies. The Trump administration has signaled its commitment to reshaping U.S. immigration policy, but the human cost of these changes is already evident.
