The U.S. is spending at least $4,675 per person to deport migrants to Guatemala using military aircraft—five times the cost of a first-class commercial flight on the same route, according to U.S. and Guatemalan officials.

A recent deportation flight from El Paso, Texas, to Guatemala on January 27 carried 64 deportees aboard a U.S. military transport aircraft.

A U.S. official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, revealed that operating a C-17 military transport plane costs approximately $28,500 per flight hour. The round-trip journey to Guatemala takes about 10.5 hours in the air, not including ground time or pre-flight preparations.

For comparison, a one-way first-class ticket from El Paso to Guatemala City on American Airlines costs around $853.

Why Military Flights Are More Expensive

The C-17 is significantly more expensive than the aircraft typically chartered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation flights.

• ICE-chartered flights vary in cost, but according to ICE Air's website in 2021, the agency paid $8,577 per flight hour.
• In April 2023, during a congressional budget hearing, acting ICE Director Tae Johnson stated that a deportation flight carrying 135 passengers costs approximately $17,000 per flight hour and typically lasts 5 hours.
• This translates to about $630 per person, assuming no extra charges for the return flight.

ICE typically uses Boeing 737s or McDonnell Douglas MD-80s, which are far more cost-effective than military cargo planes.

Trump Orders Military Planes for Deportations

Since last week, President Donald Trump has ordered the use of military aircraft for deportation flights, bypassing the traditional ICE Air system.

Out of six deportation flights launched, four successfully landed in Guatemala, while Colombia refused entry to two C-17s, opting instead to send its own aircraft to repatriate its citizens.

President Trump has vowed to continue using military planes for deportations and warned that any country that resists will face severe economic consequences.

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared an image of migrants boarding a C-17 via its rear staircase, writing:

"President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the world: If you enter the U.S. illegally, you will face serious consequences."

Pentagon’s Role in Deportations

Last week, the Pentagon confirmed that the U.S. military will provide flights to deport over 5,000 detained migrants from El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California.

The move marks an unprecedented shift in U.S. immigration enforcement, sparking debate over cost-effectiveness, military involvement in deportations, and diplomatic tensions with affected countries.

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