Mexico Blocks Packed Illegal Migrant Deportation Flight From Landing

Authorities in Mexico reportedly prevented a US military plane from deporting illegal migrants after Donald Trump’s immigration campaign began.

According to American officials, a packed jet did not take off after authorities south of the border rejected the maneuver.

The flight was one of three scheduled to take out on Thursday, along with two Guatemala-bound Air Force C-17s carrying over 150 individuals, as part of what Trump has termed as the greatest mass deportation operation in US history.

Deporting migrants to other nations requires authorization from the entering country’s government, which Mexico denied on Thursday.

It was unclear why Mexico blocked the aircraft, but tensions between the United States and Mexico, both neighbors and longtime allies, have escalated since President Donald Trump won the November election. Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico in retribution for migrants crossing the countries’ shared border.

A White House official said in a text message that “the flights thing was an administrative issue and was quickly rectified.”

Following the release of this news, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tweeted: “Yesterday, Mexico accepted a record four deportation flights in one day!”

In a statement, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not explain why the US plane was not permitted to land in the nation.

“Mexico has a very good relationship with the United States government and we cooperate with respect for our sovereignty on a wide range of issues, including migration,” the statement read. “When it comes to repatriations, we will always welcome the arrival of Mexicans to our territory with open arms. Mexico embraces you.”

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Nnamdi Okoli