Trump Administration Considers Ships for Mass Migrant Deportations

The Trump administration is considering the use of ships, including ferries and the Training Ship Golden Bear, to deport migrants to countries such as El Salvador, Honduras, and Venezuela. U.S. officials report that the Department of Defense has contacted European companies to inquire about available vessels for this purpose.

While the Department of Homeland Security describes the plan as hypothetical and preliminary, the strategy aims to maximize efficiency in securing the homeland. The administration is also exploring whether deportation costs could be shifted from Homeland Security to the Department of Defense.

Critics and former officials warn that the plan would create significant operational and safety challenges. They argue that using ships would raise jurisdictional questions in international waters and cost millions of dollars per trip, making the process substantially more expensive than current deportation flights.