Repatriation flight program facts for kids
The Repatriation Flight Program was a special plan by the United States and Mexico governments. It helped Mexican citizens who had crossed the border into the U.S. without official permission. The program offered free flights back to their home country. Its official name was the "Interior Repatriation Program."
This program was paid for by taxpayers in Arizona. It ran for a short time, from July 12 to September 30, 2004. It was a test program, and other American states were thinking about starting similar ones. During this period, more than 14,000 Mexican citizens were flown back home.
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Why the Program Started
Officials from the United States Border Patrol said the program's main goal was to help save lives. Many people crossing the desert faced dangerous conditions. Border Patrol police would often find these individuals in southern Arizona towns or near the Sonora border.
How Flights Worked
Once caught, people were processed by officials. Then, they were taken to Tucson International Airport to catch their flights back home. The airplanes used for these flights were all Boeing 757 jets.
Why the Program Ended
The Repatriation Flight Program eventually stopped because of its high cost. During the three-month test period, Arizona taxpayers paid about US $15 million. This meant it cost around US $1,000 for each person flown back.
Impact on Safety
Border Patrol police stated that the program helped reduce the number of immigrant deaths around the Tucson area by 28 percent. However, statistics showed that Arizona had a record number of immigrant deaths in 2004, with 171 people reported dead.
Where People Flew Back To
Immigrants who were caught and flown back to Mexico usually landed in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Some also arrived at Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City.
Willingness to Return
Even after traveling on foot from Mexico to the United States and facing tough conditions, many people were willing to try again. A survey at Mexico's largest international airport found that 50 percent of those returned by air were still willing to try crossing into the United States without permission again.
