Mexico refuses to allow U.S. military planes deporting migrants to land in the country

By avagrace // 2025-01-30

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Mexico denied U.S. military aircraft carrying deported migrants permission to land, escalating tensions over immigration policies.
The blocked flight was part of broader U.S. deportation efforts, following two successful flights to Guatemala earlier that day.
Mexico's refusal signals reluctance to cooperate with President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement strategies.
The incident coincides with Trump's re-launch of the "Remain in Mexico" policy, which Mexico opposes, citing undue burdens and economic contributions of Mexican immigrants.
The dispute highlights strained U.S.-Mexico relations, exacerbated by Trump's threats of tariffs and the militarization of deportation efforts.

The Mexican government is refusing to allow United States military aircraft carrying deported migrants to land in the country. This decision, confirmed by officials from both nations, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing immigration crisis and highlights the challenges facing President Donald Trump’s administration as it seeks to enforce stricter border policies. The incident occurred when the U.S. government attempted to send a C-17 military transport aircraft to Mexico as part of its broader deportation efforts. The C-17, a large cargo plane typically used for transporting troops and equipment, was repurposed to carry migrants back to their home countries. While two similar flights successfully transported approximately 80 migrants each to Guatemala earlier that day, the Mexico-bound flight was grounded after Mexican authorities denied permission for it to land. (Related: Trump announces 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, effective February 1.) Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement emphasizing the country's commitment to accepting its own citizens but stopped short of addressing the specific incident. Mexico has long maintained a policy of welcoming repatriated nationals, but the refusal to allow the U.S. military flight suggests a reluctance to cooperate with the Trump administration's aggressive deportation strategy. This development comes on the heels of Trump's re-launch of the controversial "Remain in Mexico" policy, which requires asylum seekers trying to gain entry into the U.S. from the southern border to wait in Mexico while their cases are processed. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly opposed the policy, arguing that it imposes undue burdens on her country and violates international norms. She has also criticized the use of mass deportations, asserting that Mexican immigrants play a vital role in the U.S. economy.

Trump unlikely to back down despite Mexican opposition to deportation flights

The Trump administration, however, has shown no signs of backing down. In his first week in office, Trump declared a national emergency along the U.S.-Mexico border, deploying 1,500 additional troops to bolster security and ordering a crackdown on illegal immigration. The use of military aircraft for deportations is part of this broader effort, marking the first time in decades that such planes have been employed for this purpose. The decision to involve the military in deportation operations has sparked debate. Critics argue that it militarizes immigration enforcement and risks straining diplomatic relations with key allies like Mexico. Supporters, on the other hand, contend that it is a necessary step to address the ongoing border crisis and deter illegal crossings. The situation is further complicated by Trump's recent threats to impose a 25 percent tariff on Mexican goods in response to the influx of migrants crossing the shared border. While these tariffs have not yet been implemented, they have heightened tensions between the two nations and raised concerns about the potential economic fallout. Despite the friction, both countries have sought to downplay the incident. A White House official described the flight denial as an "administrative issue" that was quickly resolved, while the Mexican Foreign Ministry reiterated its commitment to maintaining a strong relationship with the United States. Watch this video from Fox News as commentator Laura Ingraham discusses how Trump's deportation program is putting Americans first. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

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Trump unlikely to back down despite Mexican opposition to deportation flights

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