The Mexican government has firmly rejected claims of any ban on U.S. military flights over its airspace, following reports about the rerouting of one such aircraft carrying deported migrants. Through its Secretariat of Governance (Segob), Mexico clarified on January 31, 2025, there has been no request from the United States for permission to overfly its territory.
This announcement came as part of the government's response to statements by the U.S. Border Patrol, which suggested the aircraft, transporting approximately 80 Guatemalan deportees, was forced to alter its route due to a ban imposed by Mexican authorities. The Segob emphasized, “No authority from the United States has requested authorization for overflight within our national territory, as established by protocols.”
According to the statement, there has been continuous communication with U.S. authorities, and the National Defense Secretariat (Sedena) has not received any requests related to military overflights. The incident stems from the flight departing from Fort Bliss, Texas, which had to avoid Mexican airspace, resulting in the trip’s duration doubling to approximately seven hours.
Orlando Marrero, spokesperson for the U.S. Border Patrol, commented on the government’s deportation strategies, stating, “The message we have for those people is, if you cross the border illegally, we are going to deport you to your country of origin within hours.” His remarks illustrated the urgency associated with recent policies under former President Donald Trump, who has increasingly utilized military aircraft for deportations rather than relying on commercial charters.
Texas Representative Henry Cuellar weighed in, mentioning, “There are some countries which do not like military planes entering their territory.” His reflections highlight the logistical challenges present when dealing with military flights and international communication requirements.
President Trump’s administration initiated these military flight operations as part of swift deportation efforts aimed at streamlining the process for repatriation. This tactic included transporting deported individuals to Guatemala, Ecuador, and Colombia, shifting away from the previous practice by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) which typically used commercial flights.
During her daily briefing, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the increase of deportees since Trump took office, detailing how from January 20 to 28, 2025, over 6,200 individuals had been deported back to Mexico, with the majority being citizens from Mexico.
Sheinbaum has also called for Latin American countries to engage more critically, underscoring the need for dialogue amid increasing diplomatic tensions over the deportation of migrants. Notably, the situation has garnered attention due to conflicts around military aircraft use, raised last year when Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially rejected U.S. military flights for being disrespectful to the dignity of deportees, only to reverse course after diplomatic pressure.
The Mexican government's latest clarification reflects its intention to maintain sovereignty and cooperation with the U.S. While Segob states it has enjoyed positive relations with American counterparts, the latest scenario with the military flights tests these diplomatic waters.
Despite the undeniable challenges posed by the deportation policies, Sheinbaum reiterated her stance of welcoming returning Mexican nationals, adamantly stating, “We will always receive Mexicans returning to our territory with open arms.”
This latest dispute over airspace usage is symptomatic of broader immigration issues affecting both nations and points toward the necessity for transparent, respectful dialogue as the geopolitical relationship evolves.