The White House announced Friday that deportation flights for illegal immigrants have commenced, sharing images of individuals boarding military aircraft.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took to X (formerly Twitter) to emphasize President Donald Trump’s firm stance on illegal immigration.
“Deportation flights have begun,” Leavitt wrote. “President Trump is delivering a strong and clear message to the world: entering the United States illegally will result in serious consequences.”
On Thursday, hundreds of migrants were arrested, with many already flown out of the country on military planes. According to the White House, 538 individuals identified as illegal immigrant criminals were taken into custody, including a suspected terrorist, members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and several individuals convicted of sex crimes against minors.
“The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals, including a suspected terrorist, four members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and several convicted of sex crimes against minors,” Leavitt posted. “The largest deportation operation in history is now underway. Promises made. Promises kept.”
During his election campaign, Donald Trump vowed to crack down on illegal immigration, a promise he has acted on immediately in his second term. On his first day back in office, Trump signed executive orders declaring a “national emergency” at the southern border, deploying additional troops to the area and prioritizing the deportation of “criminal aliens.”
In addition to halting refugee resettlement, the administration has signaled its intent to prosecute local officials who refuse to enforce the new immigration policies, according to AFP.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimates there are approximately 11 million undocumented migrants currently living in the country.
