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The President of the U.S. Donald Trump has sparked controversy by sharing a meme referencing Apocalypse Now with a twist on the film's most famous line.
“ I love the smell of deportations in the morning...,” the president wrote on his Truth Social account, in a post that was echoed by the official White House account.
"Chicago is about to discover why it is called the Department of WAR," he added, doubling down on his threat to deploy the National Guard in the city.
This week, Trump stated that Chicago is "the most dangerous city in the world," escalating the federal threat against Democratic cities. Despite Trump's claims, studies show a decrease in crime in major cities, which is even lower in the states governed by Democrats.
The United States has reached record numbers in deportation operations under the administration of Donald Trump, with almost 6,000 flights conducted between January and July 2025, according to data collected by activists monitoring these operations.
The activist Tom Cartwright, who has been tracking the so-called "deportation flights" for years, documented 5,962 flights so far during Trump's second term, an increase of 41% compared to the same period in 2024.
In July alone, 1,214 flights were recorded, the highest monthly figure since 2020.
Most of these operations are carried out by three airlines: GlobalX, Eastern Air Express, and Avelo Airlines.
Flights transport immigrants to detention centers, border airports, or directly to destination countries, primarily in Central America and Mexico.
There have also been 68 military flights since January, 18 of which occurred in July, mostly headed to the Guantánamo Bay base in Cuba, AP emphasized.
At the end of August, the Trump administration reached a new record, with an average of 1,435 undocumented immigrants deported per day in its last two weeks, the highest number recorded in the country's recent history.
Frequently asked questions about Donald Trump's immigration policies
How many deportation flights have been carried out under Trump's administration in 2025?
Between January and July 2025, nearly 6,000 deportation flights have been carried out under the administration of Donald Trump, representing a 41% increase compared to the same period in 2024. These flights transfer immigrants to detention centers, border airports, or directly to destination countries in Central America and Mexico.
What measures has Trump taken to intensify deportations?
The Trump administration has implemented the "Big Beautiful Bill", a law that injects billions of dollars into immigration operations and increases detention capacity. Additionally, agreements have been signed with local police for cooperation, and detention infrastructure has been expanded at military bases. This approach has resulted in an average of 1,435 deportations daily, the highest figure recorded in the recent history of the U.S.
How has Trump's immigration policy affected Cuban immigrants?
The Trump administration has revoked the "humanitarian parole" program, affecting thousands of Cubans who relied on this program to regularize their status in the U.S. This decision, along with the suspension of immigration application processing, has created uncertainty in the Cuban community and has left many at risk of deportation.
What is Trump's stance on the so-called "sanctuary jurisdictions"?
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order mandating strict measures against "sanctuary jurisdictions", which are states and localities that limit cooperation with federal immigration law enforcement. These jurisdictions are at risk of losing federal funds and facing legal actions if they do not comply with the new regulations.
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