Mexico Will Not Allow U.S. to Send Its Nationals to Guantanamo, Foreign Minister Says

Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente said that no Mexican nationals will be flown to the Guantanamo Bay detention facility under any circumstances, and that deportees shall be sent to the country. His remarks followed news that the United States has begun sending detained migrants to the facility as part of President Donald Trump's operation to crack down on immigration.

"We immediately sent a diplomatic note to the U.S. Embassy making it clear that we will receive any and all Mexican nationals who wish to return," de la Fuente said before a meeting at the Senate. He then reiterated that Mexico's government had been monitoring the situation closely and ensuring the safe return of its citizens who are being deported from the U.S.

As the Trump administration continues detaining undocumented immigrants, news surfaced that ICE has had to release some after exceeding capacity. In order to address this, the administration announced plans last week it will take measures to use a detention center at Guantanamo Bay, which it claims holds "30,000 beds to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people."

De la Fuente emphasized that Mexico remains committed to repatriating its citizens and ensuring they receive proper assistance upon return, Infobae reports. "The numbers have not changed significantly from previous deportation levels, but we will continue to monitor the situation to guarantee that those forced to return can do so under the best possible conditions," he said.

The foreign minister also confirmed ongoing discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "We have maintained an open, direct, and cordial dialogue, and we will continue these discussions," de la Fuente said.

The diplomatic exchange occurs as Mexico and the United States negotiate broader security and trade agreements. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum recently announced the deployment of 10,000 troops to the northern border to combat drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl smuggling. The move followed an agreement that temporarily postponed tariffs announced by Trump.

The U.S. administration, meanwhile, has been expanding detention and deportation efforts. Documents from the Department of Homeland Security outline plans to increase Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention capacity and utilize Department of Defense facilities as temporary holding centers. Additional military resources, including airlift support for deportation flights, are also being deployed.