WASHINGTON-Mexico has denied an American military aircraft on Thursday access to land, which at least temporarily frustrates the plans of the Trump government to deport immigrants to the country, according to two American defense officials and a third person who is familiar with the situation .
Two C-17s from the Air Force with destination Guatemala, each with about 80 people on board, flew out the US on Thursday evening, according to the sources. The third flight, planned for Mexico, never got off the ground.
It was not immediately clear why Mexico blocked the flight, but the tensions between the US and Mexico, neighbors and old allies have increased since President Donald Trump won the elections in November. Trump has threatened with the imposition of general rates of 25% on Mexico in retaliation for migrants crossing the border that the countries share. But he has not yet implemented them.
An officer of the White House said in a text message that “the flight issue was an administrative issue and was quickly remedied.”
After the publication of this article, Karoline Leavitt, press secretary of the White House tweeted: “Yesterday, Mexico accepted a record number of four deportation flights in one day!”
However, an officer of the White House did not make it clear whether it was military, commercial or private flights.
The government of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has said that she is to resolve that Trump takes 'one-sided' action to implement restrictive immigration standards-including the reintroduction of a 'stay in Mexico' policy that forces migrants to stay in that country while they Waiting for the ruling on asylum applications. The cooperation of the government of that country is required to fly abroad.
In a statement, the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not discuss the reason why the American aircraft was not allowed to land in the country.
“Mexico has a very good relationship with the government of the United States and we work together with respect for our sovereignty on a wide range of issues, including migration,” said the statement. “When it comes to repatriations, we will always welcome the arrival of Mexicans. With open arms to our territory. Mexico embraces you. ”
On Friday, Guatemala received three flights from the US with Guatemalekse Citizens who had been sent back to their home country. A spokesperson for the Guatemalse Migration Institute told NBC News that two of Friday's flights were with military planes and the other with a non-military aircraft. The total number of Guatemalt sign that arrived in Guatemala city via the three flights was around 265.
The military deportation flights are part of a broader action by the Trump government against illegal immigration, which has been initiated with implementing decisions signed as president in his first week. During his campaign, he promised to stop illegal immigration to the US and continue a campaign of mass deportation of immigrants without papers who already live in the country.
In addition to the flights, he called in the army to strengthen his presence on the border with another 1,500 men.
This article was originally published on nbcnews.com
