There are reports from several media outlets in the US that hundreds of “illegal immigrant criminals” in the United States were arrested Thursday and hundreds of others were flown out of the country on military aircraft.

The news comes as President Trump’s promised mass deportation operation got underway, according to the White House.

In a post on X Thursday night, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals including a suspected terrorist, four members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and several illegals convicted of sex crimes against minors.”

She gave no further details about the arrests.

Meanwhile, a defense official said there were two flights overnight. Both went to Guatemala, according to two sources, and carried 81 deportees. However, a Guatemalan official said 79 Guatemalans had been returned, 31 women and 48 men.

Leavitt stated, “The Trump Administration also deported hundreds of illegal immigrant criminals via military aircraft. The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway.”

According to CBS news, three officials say the plan to use military aircraft for the deportation flights was approved under the Trump administration, not the Biden administration. The flights are part of the actions the acting secretary of defense announced on Wednesday following Mr. Trump’s executive action ordering the U.S. military to step up its presence on the border.

There are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. Many have been in the country for many years.