Thu Jan 30 11:56:00 UTC 2025: ## Trump’s Military Deportation Flights Cost Taxpayers a Steep Price
**Washington D.C.** – President Trump’s controversial use of military aircraft for deportations is proving far more expensive than using commercial flights, according to newly released data. Monday’s flight to Guatemala, one of several transporting migrants from the US, cost an estimated $4,675 per migrant – over five times the price of a first-class commercial ticket.
The high cost stems from the utilization of C-17 military transport aircraft, which reportedly cost approximately $28,500 per hour to operate. A flight carrying 64 migrants to Guatemala and back took roughly 10.5 hours, resulting in the exorbitant per-person cost. This is significantly higher than the cost of commercial charter flights used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which range from $630 to $8,577 per flight hour, depending on the source and number of deportees.
The President, speaking at his Doral golf club, defended the unprecedented use of military planes, asserting that it demonstrates renewed US strength on the world stage and vowing to continue the practice, even threatening economic repercussions for countries refusing cooperation. Images released by the White House showed migrants boarding a C-17, highlighting the administration’s tough stance on illegal immigration.
The Pentagon has yet to comment on the cost. While the military stated it would assist with deporting over 5,000 immigrants, the high cost per migrant raises serious questions about the financial implications of this policy. The significant difference in cost between military and commercial options has sparked debate over the efficiency and fiscal responsibility of the President’s approach.
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