A heartbreaking letter from an immigrant child fearing deportation has gone viral on social media, leaving many people deeply moved. The child, who is from El Salvador, wrote the note to his best friend, expressing his fear that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) might deport him.
The letter reads, “If ICE takes me, don’t forget about me. I will be in El Salvador. You’re my best friend, the brother I never had. I cry every night thinking they will come for me at school.” The note also had crying face drawings, reflecting the child’s sadness.
The emotional letter sparked outrage online, with many people blaming former U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration for enforcing strict immigration policies. One user angrily wrote, “This is cruel. F*** ICE, f*** Donald Trump, and anyone who supports this.” Another commented, “Terrorizing children does not make a country great.”
However, not everyone shared the same sentiment. Some users dismissed the letter, claiming that illegal immigration is a serious issue. One person mentioned tragic cases like Laken Riley and Kate Steinle, victims of crimes linked to illegal immigrants. Another sarcastically said, “They can be pen pals! How cute.” Others blamed the child’s parents, saying they put their child in this situation by entering the U.S. illegally.
This viral story comes as Trump pushes forward with mass deportations, fulfilling his campaign promise to remove thousands of undocumented immigrants. Reports indicate that the U.S. government has been using Department of Defense (DOD) resources to carry out deportation flights.
A defense official told CNN that the military has not yet calculated the full cost of these flights. However, estimates suggest they are extremely expensive. For example, military aircraft like the C-17 cost around $21,000 per hour to operate, while the C-130E costs between $68,000 and $71,000 per hour. Given that a one-way flight from El Paso, Texas, to Guatemala City takes 12 hours, the cost for a single deportation flight using a C-17 is estimated at $252,000. If a C-130E is used, the cost could be as high as $852,000.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) usually charters deportation flights at a lower cost, but Trump’s emergency orders have led to military involvement, raising expenses significantly. Despite the backlash, his administration remains committed to removing undocumented immigrants as quickly as possible.
As debates over immigration policies continue, stories like this child’s letter serve as a reminder of the human impact of these decisions. While some argue for stricter enforcement, others emphasize the emotional toll on families and children caught in the middle.
