In a recent development, a group of migrants, including Margarita Raymundo, were swiftly deported from the U.S. to Guatemala City via a U.S. Air Force cargo jet. This rapid deportation was made possible due to the Trump administration's utilization of military resources to enhance deportation capacity, typically reliant on chartered flights.
During the first week of President Trump's second term, the Department of Homeland Security reported the deportation of approximately 7,300 individuals from various nationalities. Raymundo, apprehended just a short distance from a highway, was informed by a Border Patrol agent that her deportation would be expedited, with a warning of potential imprisonment if caught again.
The presence of U.S. military planes in Latin America has raised concerns, particularly in countries with a history of U.S. military intervention. Colombian President Gustavo Petro declined landing permission for U.S. military planes carrying deportees, opting instead for Colombian air force planes to repatriate citizens.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized that recent deportee flights to Mexico City were civilian-operated. In Guatemala, where at least three U.S. military flights carrying deportees have landed, officials have stated that receiving migrants is an obligation.
Human rights advocates in Guatemala, such as Jorge Santos, have criticized the involvement of military planes in deportations, advocating for civilian-led processes. Concerns were also raised about the use of restraints on deportees during flights, with reports of discomfort and challenges in eating due to handcuffs.
Lesly Ramírez, a deportee, highlighted the physical discomfort caused by tight handcuffs during the flight. Despite the challenges, migrants like Raymundo and Ramírez expressed their humanity and emphasized their intentions to seek better opportunities for themselves and their families.
Raymundo, a 21-year-old Indigenous Maya Chalchiteca, shared her disappointment over the failed attempt to enter the U.S., driven by a desire to support her parents financially. With debts incurred for the smuggling attempt, she remains determined to pursue opportunities in the U.S. to improve her family's circumstances.
