White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Friday that deportations of illegal migrants have begun via aircraft.

"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," Leavitt wrote on the social media platform, X.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week that allowed military aircraft to be used for deportation purposes.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Thursday night that this week there had been 538 arrests this week of illegal migrants. 

Deportation flights have been used in the past.

One of Trump's top issues during his 2024 presidential campaign was cracking down on illegal immigration and securing the U.S.-Mexico border.