Pentagon Under Scrutiny: Unlawful Migrant Deportation Flight?

A Democratic lawmaker is urging the Pentagon's Inspector General to investigate a possible breach of law by the U.S. military, which deported 17 migrants to El Salvador on March 30 without any U.S. government civilians present.

The flight, originating from a U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, was labeled a 'counter-terrorism' mission by the Pentagon, potentially justifying the absence of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel. However, this operation has sparked a call for scrutiny from Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Reed's letter to the Department of Defense's acting Inspector General, Steven Stebbins, highlights a lack of known counter-terrorism authority for such a mission. The Inspector General's office often treats such requests with urgency, particularly when voiced by significant Congressional members, like Reed, who is pressing to examine the flight's authorization chain and its legalities.

(With inputs from agencies.)