WASHINGTON – Mexico prevented an American military plane from reaching Earth on Thursday, which temporarily foiled the Trump administration plans to deport migrants to the country, according to US defense officials and a third person familiar with the situation.
The sources said that two C-17 Air Force planes were heading to Guatemala, each carrying about 80 people, who transported the two departments from the United States on Thursday evening. The third trip, designated for Mexico, has never taken off.
It was not immediately clear that Mexico prevented the journey, but the tensions between the United States and Mexico, neighbors and allies long ago, have escalated since President Donald Trump’s victory in the November elections. Trump threatened to impose customs duties by 25% on Mexico in response to immigrants crossing the common borders between the two countries. But he has It has not yet been implemented.
“The issue of flights was an administrative issue and was quickly corrected,” a White House official said in a text message.
The Mexican embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mexican president’s government, Claudia Shinbom, said it is opposing Trump Take “unilateral” measures. Implementing restrictions – including restoring the policy of “staying in Mexico” that force migrants to stay in that country while awaiting asylum applications. The transfer of the two airports to a foreign country requires the cooperation of the government of that state, and Mexico has refused to give its approval.
On Friday, Guatemala received three flights from the United States carrying Guatemalitan citizens who were returned to their homeland. A spokesman for the Guatemali Immigration Institute told the NBC News that two flights from Fridays were on military aircraft and the other on a non -military plane. The total number of Guatemalians who arrived in Guatemala on the three trips was about 265 people.
Military deportation trips are part of a broader campaign for the Trump administration against illegal immigration, which was launched by executive orders signed in the first week of his office. During his campaign, he pledged to stop illegal immigration to the United States and to continue the mass deportation campaign for illegal immigrants who already live in the country.
In addition to flights, he recruited the army to enhance its presence on the border by sending an additional 1,500 soldiers.
Megan Leibitz,, Julia Einsley and Didi Martinez Contribute.
