International News: US sends more than 2,000 Mexicans to Guatemala before repatriation

By Zoila Palma:  The United States has deported around 2,300 Mexican nationals to Guatemala so far this year, according to the Guatemalan government, in a practice that has drawn objections from Mexico.

The transfers are part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown and appear aimed at making it more difficult for deported migrants to quickly return to the U.S.-Mexico border, Reuters report.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo said the Mexican deportees have been arriving on flights carrying Guatemalan nationals being returned from the United States.

He said the Mexicans are then transferred to Mexico within 24 hours, with transportation costs covered by either Mexico or the United States. Mexico’s Foreign Ministry confirmed it is working to repatriate its citizens and has formally rejected the U.S. practice.

The development marks a departure from the traditional practice of sending Mexican deportees directly to Mexico, which has generally accepted its citizens returned from the United States. Immigration experts say routing Mexicans through third countries such as Guatemala could be intended to move them farther from the U.S. border and discourage attempts to re-enter the country.

Human Rights First policy director Savi Arvey said the United States has systematically deported Mexicans to Guatemala and Honduras since May. The organization said it has confirmed approximately 200 Mexicans were sent to Honduras, although Honduran authorities said their migrant reception center had not received Mexican deportees and the country’s Foreign Ministry said it had no information on the reported transfers.

The policy has raised concerns among migrant rights advocates over transparency and the treatment of deportees.

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