U.S. military flights deport migrants to Honduras amid Trump’s crackdown

The U.S. has begun using military planes to deport migrants, with Honduras receiving flights as part of Trump’s efforts to secure the southern border.

A U.S. Air Force flight carrying deported migrants by the U.S. government arrives at Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport on January 31, 2025, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Photo by Jorge Salvador Cabrera/Getty Images

By Widya Putri and Alana Salsabila

Honduras received deportees on U.S. military flights Friday as part of President Donald Trump’s aggressive push to curb migration at the southern border. The flights, which arrived in San Pedro Sula, mark a shift in deportation policies under the administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

The decision to use military aircraft for deportations has sparked criticism from Latin American leaders, with concerns over the optics of deportees boarding military planes and the rhetoric surrounding their removal. Some leaders have objected to Trump’s characterization of deportees as criminals, arguing that many are migrants seeking asylum or economic opportunities.

Trump orders military assistance in deportations

Trump’s use of military resources for deportations follows an executive order authorizing the Defense Department to assist in securing the border. The Pentagon confirmed plans to airlift more than 5,000 individuals in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody, escalating deportation efforts beyond the standard use of commercial charter flights.

Honduras, one of the first nations to receive military deportation flights, had previously expressed concerns over Trump’s threats of mass deportations. President Xiomara Castro warned on New Year’s Day that her government might reconsider the presence of U.S. military personnel in the country, depending on how the new administration handled deportations.

Despite these warnings, Honduras has continued cooperating with the U.S., and on Friday, the country’s foreign minister, Enrique Reina, welcomed the first wave of deportees arriving on military aircraft. Reina confirmed that deportees were neither shackled nor handcuffed when they disembarked and were provided with hot meals and coffee upon arrival.

First military deportation flight lands in Honduras

The first U.S. military flight carrying more than 70 deportees landed in San Pedro Sula around midday, approximately 100 miles northwest of Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital. A second military flight was scheduled to arrive later in the evening, making Honduras one of the key destinations for military-assisted deportations.

Foreign Minister Reina stated that Honduras had renewed a long-standing agreement with the U.S. allowing American military operations on Honduran bases, most notably at Soto Cano Air Base, also known as La Palmerola. While the agreement is typically renewed each January, Reina noted that new conditions had been added this year concerning the scale and treatment of deportees.

“If the conditions are not the best, we can re-evaluate,” Reina said, emphasizing that Honduras sought dignified treatment for its citizens.

Deportations continue across Latin America

Honduras is not the only country receiving deportees via military aircraft. The Trump administration has also sent U.S. military flights carrying deported migrants to Guatemala and Ecuador, expanding its efforts to use military resources in immigration enforcement.

Despite the introduction of military flights, CBP has continued using commercial charter planes for deportations. On Friday, in addition to the two military flights arriving in Honduras, two commercial charter planes operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also transported deportees to the country.

Reina confirmed that the military flights have not replaced commercial charter deportations but instead represent a fraction of the overall removals carried out by the administration. However, the optics of military aircraft transporting deportees have intensified scrutiny from Latin American governments and human rights organizations.

Colombia rejects U.S. military deportation flights

The U.S. military deportation flights first gained widespread attention after a diplomatic standoff between Colombia and the Trump administration. On Sunday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro publicly rejected two U.S. military planes carrying deportees, ordering them to return to the United States. The move sparked tensions between the two governments and highlighted growing resistance to the Trump administration’s deportation strategy.

Petro’s rejection of the flights underscored concerns over the use of military aircraft for deportations, with critics arguing that the practice militarizes immigration enforcement and risks violating international agreements on the humane treatment of migrants.

A shift in U.S. immigration policy

The Trump administration’s decision to deploy military planes for deportations reflects a broader effort to accelerate removals and deter illegal crossings. The move aligns with Trump’s campaign promises to take a hardline stance on immigration and reinforce border security measures.

However, critics argue that using military aircraft for deportations creates an image of migrants being forcibly expelled under military authority, rather than undergoing standard immigration processing. Human rights groups have warned that such measures could exacerbate tensions between the U.S. and Latin American nations while further endangering vulnerable migrants.

As Trump doubles down on deportation efforts, the international response remains mixed. While some nations, like Honduras and Guatemala, have continued accepting deportees under existing agreements, others, like Colombia, have pushed back against the policy.

What’s next?

With deportations ramping up under Trump’s directive, it remains to be seen whether more Latin American governments will challenge or cooperate with the use of military aircraft in the process. The U.S. has signaled that it will continue using military resources for deportations, but diplomatic tensions may complicate these efforts.

The renewed agreement between Honduras and the U.S. suggests that, at least for now, military-assisted deportations will continue. However, Honduran officials have emphasized that they will monitor the treatment of deportees closely and may reconsider the arrangement if concerns arise.

As more countries receive deportees on military flights, the debate over Trump’s immigration enforcement strategy is likely to intensify. The impact of these policies on U.S.-Latin American relations will become clearer in the coming weeks as additional deportation flights take off.