According to a recent report by The New York Times, the Trump administration is contemplating the use of ships, including ferries and a 500-foot training vessel, to deport migrants to Central and South American countries. This move would signify an escalation in Trump’s mass deportation policies, as disclosed by two U.S. officials who preferred to remain anonymous.
While discussions have been ongoing for several weeks, they are still in the preliminary stages, and no official decisions have been made, cautioned an official from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees deportations.
Vessels Under Consideration
The most notable vessel identified in these talks is the Training Ship Golden Bear, a ship approximately 152 meters long currently docked in California. It has served for three decades as a floating classroom for cadets at the Cal Poly Maritime Academy and completed its final training voyage this year before being transferred to the U.S. Maritime Administration for retirement.
Potential Destinations and Costs
Officials from the Department of Defense have reportedly reached out to European shipping companies to explore the possibility of using additional ships. Potential destinations for these deportations include El Salvador, Honduras, and Venezuela, with voyages potentially lasting several days and costing millions of dollars per operation.
One consideration is the potential to shift some deportation operational costs from the DHS to the Department of Defense, which could relieve the DHS budget.
Challenges and Concerns
The DHS released a statement indicating it is “evaluating all its resources to maximize efficiency and continue fulfilling President Trump’s mission to secure the homeland.” Secretary Markwayne Mullin emphasized being “100% focused on ensuring the department's needs are met and being the best possible steward of taxpayer money.” The Department of Defense did not comment on the proposal.
The plan poses significant logistical, legal, and humanitarian challenges: managing the custody of hundreds of individuals over several days at sea, determining applicable laws in international waters, ensuring adequate medical care and accommodations, and whether destination countries would accept the deportees under this scheme.
Historical Context and Current Implications
This initiative is part of a broader strategy of mass deportations that has also utilized military flights, the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base as a detention center—where up to 832 migrants were processed in over 100 flights by May 2026—and the sending of migrants to third countries, including African nations such as Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, and the Central African Republic.
UN experts estimated that the U.S. had sent at least 23,000 third-country nationals to 29 countries and territories by September 2026, with the administration committing at least $410 million in deportation agreements with 31 nations.
The closest historical precedent in the U.S. for maritime deportations is the "Operation Wetback" of 1954 during the Eisenhower administration, where private ships were contracted to transport Mexicans from Texas to Veracruz.
Cubans are also among those affected by Trump’s immigration policies: between January 2025 and March 2026, 4,353 Cubans were deported as third-country nationals, according to Human Rights Watch data.
Some deportees sent to African countries have reported harsh conditions: months of imprisonment, transfers without knowledge of their destination, and difficulties in accessing legal defense.
Key Issues Surrounding Maritime Deportations
What vessels are being considered for these deportations?
The main vessel identified is the Training Ship Golden Bear, a 152-meter ship previously used by the Cal Poly Maritime Academy, currently stationed in California.
How might deportation routes impact costs?
The routes to El Salvador, Honduras, and Venezuela could extend over several days, incurring costs of millions of dollars per operation.
What are the primary challenges of maritime deportations?
Challenges include managing custody of migrants at sea, legal implications in international waters, ensuring adequate medical care, and negotiating acceptance with destination countries.