How Much Does It Cost to Deport Indian Immigrants in US Military Aircraft?

A C-17 US military aircraft was used to deport the 104 Indian immigrants who entered the US illegally, in line with President Donald Trump’s aggressive stand on illegal immigration. This action has been a part of the effort by the Trump administration to seal the borders and crack down on the illegal immigration policy that had led to thousands of immigrants getting deported from India and other countries.

A US Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft brought the deportees back to India, landing yesterday in Amritsar carrying 104 Indian nationals. These would-be immigrants had tried to cross the border into the US via the treacherous ‘Donkey‘ route, braving risky elements in their bid for a slice of the American Dream, when their hopes were cruelly belied at the US border. They were put on a flight back after being taken into custody handcuffed and chained.

High Cost of Deportation via Military Aircraft

The use of military aircraft for deportations has drawn much attention because it is very expensive. The C-17 Globemaster, a large military aircraft, costs much more than the usual commercial flights. The cost of sending each migrant back on the C-17 has been reported to be five times higher than the average first-class flight fare.

According to a Reuters report, an identical flight to Guatemala that was made some months ago already costs the U.S. government approximately $4,675 for each migrant, much higher compared to the normally used chartered commercial flights provided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE, wherein Boeing 737 or McDonnell Douglas MD-80 planes would usually be the choice for these deportation flights.

The cost of deporting via a C-17 aircraft is phenomenal. The latest flight to Guatemala, carrying 64 migrants, cost $28,500 per hour. Ground time was not included in the 10.5 hours the flight took. A San Antonio, Texas to Amritsar flight would take over 19 hours of flying time, with multiple stops. The total cost of deporting the 104 Indian migrants exceeded $500,000 or around Rs 4 crore.

Indian Government’s Role and Deportation Plans

This deportation of the Indian immigrants overlaps with reports of the visitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US next week. India and the US have already identified about 18,000 Indian illegal migrants who may be deported in the future. President Trump reportedly got assurances from PM Modi that India would take back the immigrants and that India “will do what’s right.

Another important thing that Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has confirmed to the public is that India allows the “legitimate return” of Indians who stay illegally in the US. This is a tendency that has become more and more common because the US and India have started cooperating on the theme of illegal immigration.

How the Cost of Deportation Has Increased

The cost of deporting immigrants via military aircraft like the C-17 Globemaster is much higher than chartering commercial flights. In the past, ICE has used Boeing 737s or MD-80 series planes, which are much cheaper. However, due to safety and logistical considerations, military aircraft are now being used for some deportations.

The cost of chartering commercial planes for deportation has also gone up in recent years. In 2021, ICE Air flights cost about $8,577 per flight hour. In 2023, the deportation of migrants by chartered flights cost about $17,000 per flight hour. For a five-hour flight, this means that it will cost about $630 per migrant.

With the Trump administration’s continued strict immigration policies, deportation costs are soaring, and even military aircraft have been used in some high-profile deportations. These measures demonstrate the growing cost of enforcing immigration laws and sending illegal immigrants back to their home countries.