Mexico thwarts Trump’s deportation plans: refuses to receive a flight with deportees from the U.S.

The already strained relationship between Mexico and the United States took a dramatic turn this week when Mexican authorities blocked the landing of a U.S. military aircraft carrying deported migrants. According to multiple sources, the incident occurred on Thursday, January 25, when Mexico refused to accept the flight—one of three planned deportation operations under the Trump Administration’s aggressive immigration policies.

While two C-17 Air Force planes carrying 80 deportees each successfully departed for Guatemala, the flight scheduled for Mexico never took off. The reasons behind Mexico’s refusal remain unclear, and the U.S. Embassy has not responded to requests for comment, NBC News reported.

Growing tensions under Trump’s immigration agenda

Since Donald Trump was elected 47th president of the United States, tensions between the United States and Mexico have been increasing, especially due to the Republican’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, as he has threatened to take various actions against his southern neighbor in retaliation for the increase in illegal crossings.

Among Trump’s retaliatory actions against Mexico is the designation of drug trafficking cartels as “terrorist organizations”, in addition to declaring a national emergency on the southern border and imposing generalized tariffs of 25% on products imported from Mexico, although the latter is not yet a fact.

The Trump Administration will also end the ‘Catch and Release’ program and reinstate the ‘Stay in Mexico’ policy, in addition, it wants to eliminate birthright citizenship ,but that has been blocked for now by the courts, and it ended the CBP One application, which allowed to request appointments at border ports of entry to seek refuge in the United States.

Mexico’s stance: sovereignty first

In response to Trump’s unilateral policies, the Mexican government, under President Claudia Sheinbaum, has stood firm in defending its sovereignty. Sheinbaum, who has been vocal against Trump’s approach, emphasized that while the United States can enforce its policies within its borders, Mexico will not yield its independence to external pressures.

“They can act within their territory,” Sheinbaum declared during a press conference on Tuesday, January 21. “But we will always defend our sovereignty and independence.”

Original article written by Daniela Barrera, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Greg Heilman.

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