Mexicans seeking asylum in the United States may now be transferred to Guatemala under an expanded agreement signed last year by the Trump administration, the US Department of Homeland Security announced on Monday.
The controversial deal, originally covering migrants from El Salvador and Honduras who pass through Guatemala, is part of President Donald Trump's efforts to deter migration through Mexico. Critics say Guatemala's high murder rate and limited resources make it unsafe for asylum seekers.
A DHS spokesperson said certain Mexicans seeking humanitarian protections could be eligible for transfer to Guatemala, potentially sending someone from El Paso, Texas, to Guatemala City – a distance of 2,500km. Mexico's foreign ministry condemned the move, estimating that some 900 asylum seekers could be affected from February.
Since November, 52 migrants have been sent to Guatemala under the deal, with only six applying for asylum, according to Guatemalan immigration officials. President-elect Alejandro Giammattei, who takes office this month, said he would review the agreement signed by outgoing President Jimmy Morales under threat of US tariffs.
Arrests at the US-Mexico border fell sharply in late 2019, attributed to Mexico's deployment of National Guard troops and a US programme forcing non-Mexican asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for court hearings.
