Military Plane Usage

Is the United States Using Military Cargo Planes to Drop Immigrants into the Ocean?

Witness at the Border states that there have been over 600 deportation flights that have taken place since Trump's order earlier this year (2025), many of which have used commercial flights, while others have been deported using military aircraft. Now, we estimate thousands of deportation flights have taken place. According to Military.com, the first week of Trump's second term has resulted in deportations of over 7300 nationalities. These deportees are shackled at the waist, feet, and hands (which is a normal action used in any and most prison/jail transportation). By the end of April, there been an approximation of at least 139,000 deportees. 

The first of these military deportations took place on January 25, 2025 where two C-17s were used to attempt to deport those detained to Bogota, Colombia (attempted because they were denied entry). 

“I deny the entry of American planes carrying Colombian migrants into our territory,” Colombia’s president Gustavo Petro posted on the social media site X. “The United States must establish a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants before we receive them.” Like the child he is, in a social media post, Trump said he ordered “urgent and decisive retaliatory measures” against Colombia, including tariffs, visa bans on government officials, and sanctions. Instead, two Colombian air force planes were sent to the U.S. to pick up the Colombians and bring them home Tuesday, but only after a Trump tariff threat and a furious bout of diplomacy.