Mexico Rejects US Military Flight Carrying Deported Migrants

Photo : Reuters

Mexico has turned down a request from the U.S. to allow a U.S. military plane to land in Mexico to deport migrants. On Friday, U.S. military planes flew about 80 migrants each to Guatemala. However, Mexico did not allow a C-17 transport plane from the U.S. to land.

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Officials from both the U.S. and Mexico confirmed the decision. The Mexican government did not say why the request was denied. Mexico’s foreign ministry said the country has a good relationship with the U.S. and accepts Mexicans coming back to Mexico. But they didn’t talk about this specific situation.

Earlier this week, the U.S. government said it would restart a program called "Remain in Mexico." This program makes asylum seekers from other countries stay in Mexico while they wait for their cases in the U.S. to be decided. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said this program can only happen if Mexico agrees, and Mexico has not agreed to it yet.

The U.S. State Department and Pentagon didn’t respond to requests for comments. Relations between the U.S. and Mexico have been tense, especially since President Trump declared an emergency at the border. He has sent 1,500 U.S. troops there and may send even more. Trump has also called Mexican drug cartels terrorists and threatened to charge a 25% tax on Mexican goods starting in February.

President Sheinbaum said she is open to accepting Mexicans who are sent back, but she does not agree with sending many people back at once. She believes Mexican immigrants are important to the U.S. economy.

The U.S. military is now being used to carry out deportations. This is the first time in a long time that U.S. military planes have been used to deport people. These flights are meant to move over 5,000 people who are in U.S. custody in Texas and California.

Guatemala also received a flight on Friday with about 80 deported migrants, but this one was on a commercial plane, not a military plane.

This situation shows the ongoing tension between the U.S. and Mexico over immigration and border issues.