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The Cuban-American lawyer Juan J. Rodríguez withdrew his nomination on Tuesday to become the United States ambassador to Guatemala, as confirmed by sources in Washington consulted by Prensa Libre and other Guatemalan media, once again leaving the most important diplomatic position of Washington in that Central American country unfilled.
The decision surprised the diplomatic community because Rodríguez was still awaiting the full Senate's confirmation vote, and just two months earlier, he had appeared before the Committee on Foreign Relations of that chamber to outline his work plan in detail.
During that hearing, held on April 28, Rodríguez described Guatemala as a "vital partner" for the United States, arguing that what happens in that country directly impacts U.S. security, economy, and the southern border.
The lawyer outlined his strategy around four key pillars aligned with President Donald Trump's "America First" policy: halting irregular migration, expanding economic cooperation, strengthening security, and countering China's influence in the region.
He also proposed to expedite the deportation of unauthorized individuals residing in the United States, combat drug trafficking and human smuggling networks, and demand greater accountability in the use of cooperation funds provided by taxpayers in that country.
Republican Senator Steve Daines described him as a "perfect profile" during the hearing, while Democrat Tim Kaine questioned him about the rule of law in Guatemala and the role of Attorney General Consuelo Porras.
Trump had announced Rodríguez's nomination on March 9 as part of a package of diplomatic appointments sent to the Senate, following the departure of career diplomat Tobin Bradley, who completed his mission in January 2026 as part of the ambassadorial restructuring ordered by the new administration.
While the confirmation process was being completed, the diplomatic mission was first under the direction of Chargé d'Affaires John M. Barrett —who was later transferred to Venezuela— and has since been led by Chargé d'Affaires Jorgan Andrews.
Rodríguez is a partner at the law firm Carey Rodriguez Milian, based in Coral Gables, Florida, and has 37 years of experience in complex international litigation involving corporate fraud and asset recovery across multiple jurisdictions. He also served as director of the Cuban American Lawyers Association from 2001 to 2002.
Her nomination was part of a pattern by the Trump administration of appointing Cuban Americans to high-level diplomatic positions: Benjamín León Jr. was confirmed as ambassador to Spain and Andorra, and Daniel Pérez, son of Cuban immigrants, was nominated as ambassador to Brazil on June 2, 2026.
Neither Rodríguez nor the Trump administration have publicly explained the reasons for the withdrawal, so Washington will need to appoint a new candidate and submit them to the Senate confirmation process before the embassy in Guatemala has a permanent head.
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