On Friday, White House press secretary shared images of migrants lined up, handcuffed, and boarding a military aircraft, announcing the commencement of deportation flights. The press secretary emphasized that President Trump's administration is sending a strong message that illegal entry into the United States will result in severe consequences.
It is a common practice for migrants to be handcuffed before boarding deportation flights. However, the use of military aircraft for this purpose is a notable development. The specific origin of the migrants is unknown, but they are believed to be recent border crossers who were in Border Patrol custody.
Reports earlier in the week indicated that a total of four aircraft, including two C-17s and two C-130s, were dispatched to San Diego and El Paso to facilitate repatriation flights. A senior military official confirmed this information during a press briefing on Wednesday.