diff --git a/python/ee/cli/commands.py b/python/ee/cli/commands.py
index d89c0497d..007b495fc 100644
--- a/python/ee/cli/commands.py
+++ b/python/ee/cli/commands.py
@@ -1448,20 +1448,6 @@ def is_tf_record(path: str) -> bool:
     return manifest
 
 
-class UploadExternalImageCommand(UploadImageCommand):
-  name = 'external_image'
-
-  @_using_v1alpha
-  def run(
-      self, args: argparse.Namespace, config: utils.CommandLineConfig
-  ) -> None:
-    """Creates an external image synchronously."""
-    config.ee_init()
-    manifest = self.manifest_from_args(args)
-    name = ee.data.startExternalImageIngestion(manifest, args.force)['name']
-    print('Created asset %s' % name)
-
-
 # TODO(user): update src_files help string when secondary files
 # can be uploaded.
 class UploadTableCommand:
@@ -1651,7 +1637,6 @@ class UploadCommand(Dispatcher):
 
   COMMANDS = [
       UploadImageCommand,
-      UploadExternalImageCommand,
       UploadTableCommand,
   ]
 
diff --git a/python/ee/data.py b/python/ee/data.py
index 620791a51..e2654250a 100644
--- a/python/ee/data.py
+++ b/python/ee/data.py
@@ -1910,7 +1910,6 @@ def _prepare_and_run_export(
 
 # TODO(user): use StrEnum when 3.11 is the min version
 _INTERNAL_IMPORT = 'INTERNAL_IMPORT'
-_EXTERNAL_IMPORT = 'EXTERNAL_IMPORT'
 
 
 def _startIngestion(
@@ -1934,10 +1933,6 @@ def _startIngestion(
   image = _get_cloud_projects().image()
   if import_mode == _INTERNAL_IMPORT:
     import_request = image.import_(project=_get_projects_path(), body=request)
-  elif import_mode == _EXTERNAL_IMPORT:
-    import_request = image.importExternal(
-        project=_get_projects_path(), body=request
-    )
   else:
     raise ee_exception.EEException(
         '{} is not a valid import mode'.format(import_mode)
@@ -1998,38 +1993,6 @@ def startIngestion(
   return _startIngestion(request_id, params, allow_overwrite, _INTERNAL_IMPORT)
 
 
-def startExternalImageIngestion(
-    image_manifest: Dict[str, Any],
-    allow_overwrite: bool = False,
-) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-  """Creates an external image.
-
-  Args:
-    image_manifest: The object that describes the import task, which can
-        have these fields:
-          name (string) The destination asset id (e.g.,
-             "projects/myproject/assets/foo/bar").
-          tilesets (array) A list of Google Cloud Storage source file paths
-            formatted like:
-              [{'sources': [
-                  {'uris': ['foo.tif', 'foo.prj']},
-                  {'uris': ['bar.tif', 'bar.prj']},
-              ]}]
-            Where path values correspond to source files' Google Cloud Storage
-            object names, e.g., 'gs://bucketname/filename.tif'
-          bands (array) An optional list of band names formatted like:
-            [{'id': 'R'}, {'id': 'G'}, {'id': 'B'}]
-        In general, this is a dict representation of an ImageManifest.
-    allow_overwrite: Whether the ingested image can overwrite an
-        existing version.
-
-  Returns:
-    The name of the created asset.
-  """
-  return _startIngestion(
-      'unused', image_manifest, allow_overwrite, _EXTERNAL_IMPORT)
-
-
 def startTableIngestion(
     request_id: str, params: Dict[str, Any], allow_overwrite: bool = False
 ) -> Dict[str, Any]: