Mexico temporarily denied a U.S. military plane access to land on Thursday, disrupting plans by the Trump administration to deport immigrants, according to two U.S. defense officials and another source familiar with the incident.
Two Guatemala-bound Air Force C-17s carrying about 80 deportees each managed to depart from the U.S. Thursday night. However, a third flight scheduled for Mexico was grounded.
The reason behind Mexico’s decision to block the flight remains unclear. The move comes amid heightened tensions between the two nations following President Donald Trump’s election. Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico over the issue of migrants crossing their shared border. Despite these threats, the tariffs have not been enforced.
A White House official downplayed the incident, calling it an “administrative issue” that was “quickly rectified.” After the story surfaced, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tweeted that Mexico accepted a record four deportation flights in a single day. However, it remains unclear whether those flights involved military, commercial, or private aircraft.
Mexico’s Stance on U.S. Deportation Policies
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration has voiced opposition to unilateral actions by the Trump administration, including the reinstatement of the “remain in Mexico” policy, which requires migrants to stay in Mexico while their asylum claims are processed. Deportation flights require cooperation from the receiving country, adding a layer of complexity to the process.
Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the country’s commitment to its sovereignty and cooperation with the U.S. on migration issues. “Mexico embraces its returning nationals with open arms,” the ministry said in a statement, without providing details on the blocked flight.
Guatemala Accepts Deportees
Meanwhile, Guatemala confirmed receiving three U.S. deportation flights on Friday. Two of these flights used military aircraft, while the third was non-military, bringing around 265 Guatemalan nationals back to Guatemala City.
Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Intensifies
The halted Mexico flight is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to enforce stricter immigration measures. Executive orders signed during Trump’s first week in office have paved the way for mass deportations and increased military presence along the U.S.-Mexico border, with 1,500 additional troops deployed.
The administration continues to face challenges in implementing its immigration policies as diplomatic tensions with neighboring countries simmer.
