Mexican authorities reportedly prevented a U.S. military aircraft from deporting undocumented migrants following the initiation of Donald Trump's immigration policies.
According to American officials, the flight, which was fully booked, did not depart after being denied clearance by Mexican authorities.
This flight was part of a larger operation involving three scheduled departures on Thursday, including two Air Force C-17s bound for Guatemala carrying over 150 individuals, as part of what Trump has characterized as the largest mass deportation initiative in U.S. history.
Deportations to other countries necessitate approval from the receiving nation's government, which Mexico withheld on that day.
The reasons behind Mexico's decision to block the flight remain unclear, although relations between the U.S. and Mexico have become strained since Trump's election victory in November.
Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican goods in response to the influx of migrants at the shared border.
A White House official later clarified that the issue with the flights was administrative and was resolved promptly.
Following the article's release, White House Press Secretary , Karoline Leavitt noted on Twitter that "Mexico had accepted a record four deportation flights in a single day. "
In a statement, Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not elaborate on the reasons for denying the U.S. plane's landing but emphasized the strong relationship between the two nations, highlighting their cooperation on various issues, including migration, while affirming their commitment to welcoming Mexicans returning to their homeland.