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The president of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, announced this Wednesday that his country will accept migrants from other nations who are being deported from the United States, after sealing an agreement with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is touring Central America.
Arévalo stated that the deported individuals will be returned to their countries of origin at the expense of the U.S., according to a report by the news agency AP.
During a press conference alongside Rubio, the Guatemalan leader announced that they also agreed to “increase by 40% the number of flights for deported individuals, both for repatriated nationals and deportees from other nationalities.”
Guatemala is one of the countries in the region that has been cooperating in the reception of deportees from the U.S., whether on civilian or military flights.
Rubio's tour, his first abroad as the top U.S. diplomat, has taken him to five countries in Central America - Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and soon the Dominican Republic - and has focused on immigration, one of the priorities of Donald Trump's second term.
With the government of El Salvador, Rubio achieved a similar agreement, but broader. The president Nayib Bukele agreed to receive deportees from the U.S. of any nationality, including U.S. citizens and legal residents who are imprisoned for violent crimes, something that Trump said he would consider, despite doubts about its legality.
"I just say that if we could do it legally, I would do it without hesitation," Trump told reporters this Tuesday in the Oval Office. "We are reviewing that right now."
For his part, the newly appointed Secretary of State viewed Bukele's gesture as an "unprecedented offer of friendship," but acknowledged that there were "obviously legal issues involved. We have a Constitution."
Following the agreement, the spokesperson for the State Department, Tammy Bruce, clarified that El Salvador will receive violent illegal immigrants, including members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, as well as criminals of any nationality.
The recent agreements with Guatemala and El Salvador align with the Trump administration's goal of
In the days prior, following tensions and economic and diplomatic pressure from the U.S., the governments of Colombia and Mexico agreed to receive flights with migrants deported from the northern country.
The government of Claudia Sheinbaum announced at the end of January that it would accept the reception of migrants of various nationalities, including Cubans, deported by the United States, who cannot be sent directly to their country of origin.
Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro, after prohibiting the entry of U.S. military planes carrying repatriated migrants and following a tense exchange of messages with Trump, stated that he would take on the dignified transfer of deported Colombians, as part of a commitment to protect human rights and the dignity of his citizens.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Migration Agreement between Guatemala and the U.S.
What does the migration agreement between Guatemala and the U.S. entail?
Guatemala will accept migrants deported from the United States, who will subsequently be returned to their countries of origin with expenses covered by the U.S. This agreement was announced by Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo after a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
What changes are expected in deportation flights to Guatemala?
It was agreed to increase the number of deportation flights by 40%, for both Guatemalans and other nationalities. This reflects a broader commitment between Guatemala and the United States to manage irregular migration.
How does this agreement relate to the immigration policy of the Trump administration?
The agreement with Guatemala is part of the Trump administration's strategy to toughen immigration policies and combat transnational crime. This policy also aims to foster cooperation from other countries in the region regarding migration management and security.
What other countries have signed similar agreements with the U.S.?
El Salvador has signed a similar agreement, agreeing to accept deportees of any nationality, including dangerous criminals, as part of its cooperation with the U.S. on immigration and security issues.
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