The U.S. government’s use of military aircraft for deportations is raising eyebrows, especially when considering the hefty price tag. President Donald Trump’s latest immigration crackdown has seen deportation flights using U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, costing an estimated $4,675 per migrant—more than five times the price of a first-class ticket on a commercial airline.
A Costly Strategy
The recent military deportation flight to Guatemala on January 29, 2025, highlights the financial burden of this approach. According to U.S. and Guatemalan officials, the flight carried 64 deportees, with each seat costing thousands more than alternative methods.
For comparison, a first-class one-way ticket from El Paso, Texas (where the flight originated), to Guatemala City costs about $853. Even chartered flights operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are significantly cheaper, averaging around $630 per migrant, based on previous cost estimates.
The C-17 aircraft is primarily designed for military operations, not deportation flights. A U.S. official revealed that the cost to operate this transport plane is approximately $28,500 per hour. Given that the round trip to Guatemala took around 10.5 hours, the total operational cost for a single deportation flight was estimated at nearly $300,000.
Trump’s Hardline Immigration Stance
Trump has doubled down on using military aircraft for deportations, despite the expenses. Speaking at his Doral golf club in Florida, he emphasized that any country refusing to accept deportees will face severe economic consequences. He stated, “For the first time in history, we are locating and loading illegal aliens into military aircraft and flying them back to the places from which they came.”
The White House is branding this move as a strong deterrent against illegal immigration. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently shared images of migrants boarding a C-17, declaring that the administration is sending a “strong and clear message” about immigration enforcement.
Is This the Best Use of Taxpayer Money?
Many critics argue that using military aircraft for deportations is not only costly but also unnecessary when more affordable alternatives exist. ICE typically charters Boeing 737 or McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft for deportation flights, with costs ranging between $8,577 and $17,000 per flight hour.
According to ICE data from 2023, charter flights carrying 135 deportees averaged a total flight cost of $85,000, which translates to about $630 per person. This is far lower than the military alternative, which costs more than seven times as much.
Despite these financial concerns, the Pentagon has confirmed that the military will continue assisting with deportation efforts, aiming to remove over 5,000 migrants from detention centers in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California.
What’s Next?
Trump’s approach raises a critical question: Is the high cost of military deportation flights justified as a deterrence strategy, or is it an inefficient use of resources? As the debate continues, taxpayers may wonder whether this method is truly effective or just an expensive political statement.
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