Guatemala Receives 2,300 Mexicans Deported From US

Guatemala has received about 2,300 Mexican citizens deported from the United States so far this year, highlighting the Trump administration’s increased use of third-country deportations as part of its broader immigration crackdown.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo said the Mexican deportees have been arriving aboard flights carrying Guatemalan returnees. Once in Guatemala, the Mexican nationals are transported back to Mexico within 24 hours, with travel expenses covered by either the Mexican or U.S. government.

Mexico has strongly objected to the arrangement. Its foreign ministry said it had formally informed U.S. authorities that it rejects the practice and is working to repatriate Mexican citizens sent to Central American countries.

Traditionally, deportees are returned directly to their country of citizenship under international agreements. Transfers to third countries generally occur when a person’s home country refuses to accept them or when returning there is considered unsafe.

However, President Donald Trump’s tougher U.S. immigration policy has expanded the use of third-country deportations, including through bilateral agreements. Mexico has historically accepted its citizens deported from the U.S., making the recent rerouting through Guatemala and Honduras notable.

Immigration specialists say the strategy could be designed to discourage migrants from attempting to illegally reenter the United States by placing them farther from the U.S.-Mexico border.

Savi Arvey, policy director at Human Rights First, said U.S. authorities have been systematically sending some Mexican deportees to Guatemala and Honduras since May. The organization said it has documented around 200 Mexicans deported to Honduras.

Honduran authorities, however, said they had no information confirming the arrival of Mexican deportees.

One deportee, Arturo Trejo, told Telemundo that he was among dozens of Mexicans flown to Honduras before eventually returning home. He said authorities provided little information about their destination before departure.

Ana Maria Mendez, Central America director at migrant rights organization WOLA, warned that the practice creates uncertainty over where deportees are being sent and whether their rights will be protected. Similar cases involving Nicaraguan migrants being transferred to Honduras have also been reported.