US Deports More Than 2,000 Mexicans to Guatemala Despite Mexico’s Objections

Guatemala has received around ​2,300 Mexicans deported from the United States so far this year, according to the Guatemalan government, offering fresh details on ‌a Trump administration practice intended to deter migration but opposed by Mexico.

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He said the deported Mexicans were transferred to their home country within 24 hours, with transportation costs covered by Mexico or the U.S.

Mexico’s foreign ministry said ​in a statement it opposed the practice and was working to repatriate citizens deported to Central America, without specifying the number ​of cases or costs.

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Under international accords, deportees are usually sent directly to their country of citizenship. Migrants may be sent to third countries if their home country rejects them or if the conditions are unsafe.

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Immigration experts said routing Mexicans through Guatemala or other countries may be intended to make illegal reentry to the U.S. ​more difficult by moving them farther from the U.S.-Mexico border.

While the U.S. has historically prioritized deporting Mexicans by land to northern Mexico, Savi Arvey, director of policy ‌at Human ⁠Rights First, said the U.S. has since May “systematically” deported Mexicans to Honduras and Guatemala.

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The Honduran government’s Attention to Returned Migrants Center told Reuters the center had not received deported Mexican citizens and its foreign ministry said it had no information on the matter.

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