Mexico reportedly refused to allow a US deportation flight to land on its soil on Thursday, temporarily disrupting the Trump administration's plans to deport migrants. According to sources cited by NBC News and Reuters, a US military aircraft carrying deportees was denied access to land in Mexico, marking a major development in the tense relations between the two nations.
Two US Air Force C-17 planes, each carrying about 80 Guatemala-bound deportees, successfully departed the US. However, a third flight intended for Mexico was grounded after Mexico denied the military plane permission to land. The reason for Mexico’s decision remains unclear, as both the Mexican Embassy and the White House have not commented on the matter.
Emergency Declared On US-Mexico Border
Tensions between the US and Mexico have been rising since Donald Trump began his second presidential term in January 2024. Trump has intensified his crackdown on illegal immigration, declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border and ordering an additional 1,500 US troops to the region. Reports suggest thousands more could be deployed soon.
As part of his administration's measures, Trump has utilised US military aircraft to deport migrants, a strategy falling under the Pentagon’s expanded role in addressing immigration concerns. The blocked flight, however, signals growing resistance from Mexico, which has already expressed discontent with Trump’s hardline policies.
Adding to the strain, Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Mexican goods to curb the influx of migrants at the shared border, though these tariffs have not yet been implemented. Mexico has also voiced strong opposition to the US Interior Department's recent decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the 'Gulf of America,' calling the name change historically and internationally inappropriate.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum even humorously suggested renaming North America as "Mexican America," referencing early cartographic names of the region. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has moved forward with other symbolic changes, including renaming Alaska's Denali peak to Mount McKinley.
Plans For Mass Deportation
The Pentagon has also revealed plans to use military aircraft to deport over 5,000 immigrants held in detention facilities in El Paso, Texas and San Diego, California. Additionally, the Trump administration is expanding a fast-track deportation authority, enabling the removal of migrants without court hearings.
With Mexico pushing back and tensions mounting, the fate of Trump’s aggressive immigration policies remains uncertain, raising questions about the long-term implications for US-Mexico relations.
