Mexico has denied a request from the Trump administration to allow a US military aircraft carrying deported migrants to land in the country, according to officials from both nations. This move comes as the US ramps up its immigration enforcement efforts under President Donald Trump’s second term.
While two US military flights transporting around 80 migrants each successfully landed in Guatemala on Friday, a separate C-17 transport aircraft bound for Mexico was denied entry.
Both a US official and a Mexican official confirmed the decision, which was first reported by NBC News. However, neither side provided an official reason for Mexico’s refusal.
Mexico’s Stance on Repatriations
In a statement, Mexico’s foreign ministry emphasized the country’s ongoing cooperation with the US on immigration issues but did not directly address the rejected flight.
“When it comes to repatriations, we will always accept the arrival of Mexicans to our territory with open arms,” the ministry stated.
The refusal to allow the military deportation flight follows President Claudia Sheinbaum’s recent remarks that any expansion of the US Remain in Mexico program would require an agreement between the two countries. She stressed that Mexico had not agreed to such a policy.
Trump’s Renewed Immigration Crackdown
Trump’s administration recently reintroduced the Remain in Mexico policy, which requires non-Mexican asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their US immigration cases are processed. This move is part of a broader immigration crackdown that has seen:
- 1,500 additional US troops deployed to the US-Mexico border.
- Thousands more troops potentially on standby for deployment.
- Mexican drug cartels officially designated as terrorist organizations by the US government.
- The renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
- A proposed 25 percent tariff on all Mexican imports, set to take effect in February.
Guatemala Accepts US Deportation Flights
While Mexico declined to receive the military deportation flight, Guatemala accepted multiple deportation flights on Friday. The country took in a third group of around 80 migrants via a chartered commercial aircraft, Guatemalan officials confirmed.
Unlike Mexico, Guatemala has continued cooperating with US deportation policies, including receiving migrants on military flights.
Use of US Military Aircraft for Deportations Raises Concerns
The decision to use US military planes for deportations is an unusual step, reflecting the Pentagon’s role in enforcing Trump’s national emergency declaration on immigration. The Pentagon has stated that military aircraft will be used to deport more than 5,000 migrants currently detained in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California.
Historically, the US military has transported individuals across countries during crises, such as the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. However, this is the first known instance in recent memory where military aircraft have been used to deport migrants directly from the US, according to a US official.
Mexico’s Balancing Act in US Relations
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has expressed a desire to maintain good relations with the US while also opposing certain immigration policies.
Sheinbaum has signaled openness to receiving deported Mexican nationals, but she has also spoken out against mass deportations and emphasized the economic importance of Mexican immigrants to the US.
While Sheinbaum’s government appears committed to cooperating on immigration enforcement, Mexico’s refusal to accept a military deportation flight suggests growing resistance to Trump’s hardline approach.
What’s Next
With Trump’s immigration policies escalating, Mexico’s rejection of the military flight could lead to further diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
As more deportation flights are scheduled in the coming weeks, it remains unclear whether Mexico will continue rejecting US military flights or if negotiations will lead to a different outcome.
Meanwhile, Guatemala and other Central American nations may face increasing pressure to accept more deported migrants, as the Trump administration seeks to tighten border enforcement and expedite removals.
