The U.S. has expelled close to 2,300 Mexican nationals to Guatemala this year and transferred a few dozen more to Honduras, as per official records. This marks a significant change from the early days of President Donald Trump’s second term when such deportations were rare.
Previously, the U.S. had only deported a small number of Mexicans to countries other than Mexico, following the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits sending individuals back to countries where their rights may be at risk. The Mexican National Migration Institute confirmed that Mexicans have been deported to Guatemala and Honduras by the Trump administration, mainly since April, and then transported by bus to southern Mexico.
Mexico’s Foreign Ministry has voiced opposition to this practice, emphasizing every Mexican citizen’s right to enter the U.S. The flow of migrants through Mexico has often strained relations between the two countries. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration has also protested the deaths of 17 Mexicans in U.S. immigration custody or during enforcement actions.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, responsible for immigration enforcement, stated that the deportations to Central America are part of the administration’s efforts to execute a large-scale deportation operation as promised by President Trump.
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo confirmed that 2,284 Mexicans deported from the U.S. have been temporarily housed in Guatemala before being sent back to Mexico under an agreement with the Mexican government, without refugee or asylum status. Similarly, official documents reveal that 82 Mexicans arrived in Honduras in August on deportation flights, with more following in subsequent weeks.
Immigration lawyers suspect that deportations to third countries are a tactic to indirectly pressure asylum seekers to return to Mexico when direct deportation is not feasible due to legal constraints. This strategy aims to compel the Mexican government to restrict border crossings. At the onset of Trump’s second term, agreements were reached with several countries to facilitate the repatriation of migrants expelled from the U.S.
In other developments, the U.S. initiated deportations to Haiti following a Supreme Court ruling, marking the first removals of individuals under the temporary protected status program for Haitians. Activists have raised concerns about the safety and resources available in Haiti for deportees, given the country’s volatile conditions. Liberia also received deportees from the U.S., including nationals from various regions, allowing them to seek asylum if desired.
The U.S. State Department reiterated its commitment to curbing illegal immigration and enhancing border security amid these deportation actions.