Administrative mix-up blamed for Mexico’s refusal as Trump ramps up immigration enforcement policies.
Washington, DC [US], January 26: Mexico refused to permit a deportation flight from the United States to land on Thursday, creating a hurdle in US President Donald Trump’s renewed push for strict immigration enforcement, the New York Post reported.
The blocked flight followed two earlier US Air Force C-17 flights that had successfully deported around 160 individuals to Guatemala. However, the refusal raised questions about potential tensions, as no immediate clarification was provided by Mexican authorities.
Administrative Issue Blamed for Mix-Up
The White House attributed the incident to an administrative error. A White House official stated, “The flights thing was an administrative issue and was quickly rectified.” Separately, a senior State Department official explained that the misunderstanding stemmed from discrepancies in the Department of Defense flight manifest.
Despite this setback, Mexico reportedly remains cooperative with deportation efforts. Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin noted on X that Mexico had been prepared to accept the deportees, had the paperwork been correctly submitted.
Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Intensifies
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between President Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Trump recently threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican imports in response to the migration crisis at the US-Mexico border.
As part of his efforts to address illegal immigration, Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border, loosening restrictions on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Federal agents have been granted greater authority to conduct raids, including in courthouses and churches, targeting sanctuary cities such as Boston, Denver, and Atlanta.
In his first full day back in office, Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement resulted in the arrests of 308 migrants from over a dozen countries, with ICE reporting 593 arrests and 449 detainers issued nationwide by Friday evening.
Mexico’s Cooperation with Deportations
Despite the blocked flight, Mexico has shown significant cooperation in handling deportations. The country reportedly accepted a record four deportation flights in a single day and has taken measures to curtail migration, including deploying 30,000 National Guard troops and facilitating the reinstatement of the “Remain in Mexico” policy.
On Thursday, approximately 2,000 migrants were deported, with an additional 5,000 detained within Mexico’s borders.
Military’s Role in Deportation Efforts
For the first time since the Eisenhower administration, military aircraft are being utilized to transport deportees. The Pentagon has taken on a more active role in implementing Trump’s emergency measures, with 1,500 active-duty troops deployed to assist Border Patrol, construct barriers, and conduct aerial surveillance.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised Mexico’s role in supporting deportation operations, saying, “Thanks to President Trump, yesterday Mexico accepted a record four deportation flights in one day! This, alongside unrestricted returns at the land border, the deportation of non-Mexicans, and the reinstatement of Remain-in-Mexico, highlights Mexico’s robust cooperation.”
As Trump’s immigration policies continue to evolve, the collaboration between the US and Mexico remains critical in addressing the ongoing border crisis.