Mexico Files Complaint Over Alleged Human Rights Violations During U.S. Deportation Flights

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed two deportees from the U.S. are claiming to have suffered human rights violations while on their way to Mexico. Sheinbaum, who has sparred with her U.S. counterpart Donald Trump over immigration matters, says she has submitted a complaint to Mexico's Foreign Affairs Ministry to review the case.

Sheinbaum said during daily press conference that two migrants, a Mexican man and a Guatemalan woman who arrived in Mexico on the latest deportation flights, had been mistreated by U.S. officials. She didn't specify exactly what type of abuse they endured.

Sheinbaum explained that each deportee who arrives in Mexico is thoroughly interviewed by authorities to review their experience and ensure their safety. She said the vast majority of undocumented migrants are treated fairly in their deportation flights.

"In all cases, when they arrive in Mexico they arrive without handcuffs, without any items," Sheinbaum said. "When they arrive, they are interviewed to find out if there was a violation of their human rights."

She also explained her decision to take the two cases to Mexico's Foreign Affairs Ministry.

"A Guatemalan woman and a compatriot talk about violations of their human rights. What is done at that moment?" She said. "The complaint [is presented] by Foreign Affairs to CBP in the United States and [another] complaint [is filed] for the case to be reviewed."

She also pointed out that prior to Trump's government, there were other complaints of human rights violations and that "there are lawsuits that have been won in the United States."

Sheinbaum noted that between Jan. 20-26, around 5,282 undocumented migrants have arrived in Mexico from the U.S. through deportation flights, 4,083 of which have Mexican nationality.

This isn't the first time a foreign country has denounced the U.S.' treatment of deported migrants during the Trump administration.

Over the weekend, local Brazilian media reported that government officials were disturbed by the fact that Brazilians were kept handcuffed after an unscheduled stop in the Amazon's biggest city, Manaus, prompted by technical problems with the plane.

The next day, Brazil's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was seeking answers from Washington regarding the "degrading treatment" of nationals during the recent flight. It cited "the use of handcuffs and chains, the poor condition of the aircraft, with a broken air conditioning system, among other problems."

Most notably, the apparent mistreatment of migrants going to Colombia led to a brief standoff between Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The two leaders engaged in a war of words on Sunday after Colombia blocked Trump's use of military aircraft in deporting thousands of unauthorized immigrants. The exchange led to a threat in tariffs by the U.S. and later to a retraction from Colombian officials.

Soon after the dispute, Colombia's foreign ministry released a statement that said "we have overcome the impasse with the United States government." It said the government would accept all deportation flights and "guarantee dignified conditions" for those Colombians on board.