Mexico refused to accept a flight with migrants deported from the United States

Mexico refused to allow a US military plane with migrants on board to land on its territory. This was reported by NBC with reference to two representatives of the US Department of Defense and a source familiar with the situation.

According to the interlocutors of the publication, two C-17 Air Force aircraft heading to Guatemala, 80 people were taken out of the USA each on the evening of January 23. However, the third plane, which was supposed to go to Mexico, never took off.

Deportation requires the consent of the host country's government, and Mexico refused to give such consent, NBC writes.

On January 23, US President Donald Trump signed a decree suspending the passage of illegal migrants through the country's southern border. He also instructed the Ministry of Internal Security, the Ministry of Justice and the State Department to take all possible measures to expel those illegal migrants who are already in The United States. Earlier, he estimated the number of people who will be deported at 15-20 million.

Even before Trump's inauguration, which took place on January 20, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and members of her cabinet expressed disagreement with the Republican's plan to resume the "Stay in Mexico", as well as the deportation of Mexican citizens living in the United States.

According to the US Department of Homeland Security, in 2022, almost half of illegal migrants (4.8 million out of 11 million) arrived in The United States of Mexico. Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras were also in the lead, RBC reminds.