Military Performs Additional Deportation Flights With Armed 'Raven' Security Personnel
Here's a fresh take on the situation:
Title: Pentagon's Deportation Flights: A Shift from Military to Commercial Operations
Chris Gordon The U.S. Air Force had been active in deportation missions to Ecuador, Guatemala, and Guantanamo Bay earlier this year, we've learned. Despite the Pentagon's continued efforts to move migrants out of the country, ordered by President Trump, the mode of transportation has changed from military flights to commercial ones.
On January 28, a U.S. Air Force C-17 carrying detained migrants took off from Biggs Army Airfield in El Paso, Texas, and landed in Ecuador later that evening. This was one of the last military flights used for such purposes, as the Pentagon shifted towards cost-effective commercial flights.
A C-17 transporting deportees to Guatemala was launched from El Paso on three separate occasions. The flight on January 27 marked the third transit to the country, signaling a shift in tactics.
Although the Ecuadorian and Guatemalan flights had not been publicly reported, nor officially announced, it's known that a C-17 flight left for Guatemala on January 30, according to flight tracking data.
Tensions emerged earlier when two C-17 aircraft were turned away by Colombia on January 26. After facing pressure from the Trump administration, Colombia eventually agreed to use their own air force planes to transport the deportees.
U.S. aircrews involved in these deportation missions included armed Air Force Security Forces personnel, known as Phoenix Ravens. These teams play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of the aircrew and aircraft during missions in potentially hostile locations.
A photo was released by the Department of Defense, showing the interior of a C-17 transporting migrants during a flight out of Tucson International Airport, Arizona. The image revealed at least two U.S. service members with M4 rifles.
defense officials confirmed that C-17 aircrews involved in deportation flights included Phoenix Ravens, but stressed that their primary responsibility was the security of the aircrew and aircraft. They do not engage in interdiction or law enforcement activities.
In-flight law enforcement on the deportation flights was entrusted to Department of Homeland Security personnel, according to officials.
The role of the military in these operations has shifted significantly since January 20, when the Pentagon first announced its intention to deploy 1,500 troops to the border. Defense officials maintained that U.S. military personnel were not conducting law enforcement activities, as per the Posse Comitatus Act.
However, the military's role may expand in the coming days, according to the Trump administration. President Trump has ordered the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security to prepare Guantanamo Bay for increased detention capacity, with the possibility of further mass deportations in the future.
In May 2025, the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts saw a transition from direct military involvement to traditional methods, with the Department of Homeland Security taking over most deportation operations using commercial flights. The military's function has been largely restricted to providing security for migrant detention centers, such as the one at Guantanamo Bay, housing up to 69 detainees as of recent reports.
- The shift from military flights to commercial ones for deportation missions, as seen in the U.S. Air Force's operations, is a move towards cheaper transportation methods instigated by the Pentagon.
- The United States Air Force has been involved in deploying members of the Air Force Security Forces, known as Phoenix Ravens, to ensure the safety of aircrews and aircraft during these deportation flights.
- Despite the Pentagon's conduct being within the Posse Comitatus Act's bounds, as military personnel were not directly conducting law enforcement activities, their role may expand in the future according to the Trump administration.
- In war-and-conflicts and political discourse, the issue of immigration enforcement, particularly the use of military means, has become a significant point of general news and debate.
- The space force, a newer branch of the military, might not be directly involved in these deportation operations, but the topic still falls under the broader umbrella of defense and military news.
- In the realm of security, the decision to rely on commercial flights for deportation missions demonstrates an evolution in approached tactics by the U.S. Air Force, which had previously used military aircraft for these purposes.
