Mexico Blocks U.S. Military Deportation Flight From Landing, Disrupting Trump's Immigration Efforts

Jan 25, 2025, 01:41 AM

Mexico denied a U.S. military plane carrying deported immigrants permission to land on Thursday, temporarily halting the Trump administration's plans to return migrants to the country, according to reports from NBC News citing two U.S. defense officials and a third person familiar with the situation. While two U.S. Air Force C-17 planes successfully transported about 80 deportees each to Guatemala on Thursday night, a third flight destined for Mexico did not take off after being denied landing rights. The Mexican government's refusal comes amid criticism of President Donald Trump's intensified immigration policies since returning to the White House. Mexican officials have not provided an official explanation for the denial of landing rights, and some reports indicate that the Mexican Foreign Ministry denied rejecting the flight. The incident signals potential tensions over immigration policies between the two nations as the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on illegal immigration.