The White House early Friday announced that "deportation flights have begun," while releasing photographs of lines of people led onto military planes to be taken out of the country.
NEWSMAX -- "President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the entire world: If you illegally enter the United States of America, you will face severe consequences," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday on X while showing two photographs of people boarding the planes.
It was not specified when the photographs were taken, where the deportations were being carried out, or where the flights were destined.
Leavitt added that "the Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals including a suspected terrorist, four members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and several illegals convicted of sex crimes against minors."
"The Trump Administration also deported hundreds of illegal immigrant criminals via military aircraft," she said. "The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway. Promises made. Promises kept."
According to federal information, in the 33 hours between midnight Tuesday and 9 a.m. Wednesday, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations arrested more than 460 immigrants determined to be in the U.S. illegally, reported Fox News.
Those detained reportedly had criminal records that included robbery, sexual assault, burglary, aggravated assault, drug offenses, weapons charges, resisting arrest, and domestic violence.
Foreigners involved Afghanistan, Angola, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Senegal, and Venezuela.
President Donald Trump had already announced the use of U.S. military aircraft for the deportation flights, reports MSN.
The Pentagon is deploying four C-17 and C-130 aircraft to transport migrants out of the country as part of the president's broad strategy to address the invasion at the southern border.
The State Department is handling diplomatic clearances, while the Department of Homeland Security will provide in-flight law enforcement, and approximately 5,400 migrants are expected to be deported in the initial phase of this operation.
The Pentagon's deployment to the border also includes 1,500 active-duty troops who will be added to the 2,500 active-duty troops already there, sparking outrage from critics who argue that using military resources for the deportation flights is an ethical and legal concern.