Guatemala Open to Accepting Deportees from the U.S.

According to three closely related sources, Guatemala has expressed its willingness to accept citizens of other Central American countries who have been deported from the United States. This move is seen as part of the country’s efforts to develop a positive relationship with a future Trump administration. A Guatemalan official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that a regional response is necessary and that Guatemala wishes to be part of the solution. The U.S. is facing challenges in deporting citizens of countries such as Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Haiti due to strained relations. This situation could pose a hurdle for President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to deport a record number of immigrants residing illegally in the U.S.

The Trump team has already begun discussions with several governments to assess their willingness to accept deported individuals from third countries. However, many neighboring countries, including Mexico and the Bahamas, have expressed reluctance to accept deportees from third countries.

According to a report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, more than 40% of the immigrants living illegally in the U.S. as of 2022 came from Mexico, accounting for 4.8 million of the 11 million total. Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras follow closely, together representing more than one-fifth of the total population.

In contrast to its neighbors El Salvador and Honduras, Guatemala has been notably proactive in preparing for a second Trump term. The country has held meetings with Trump transition team members, including discussions with Senator Marco Rubio before he was elected to the State Department, as well as with the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank. These discussions focused on issues related to immigration, mass deportations, border security, drug trafficking, and China.

Together with Nicaragua, which has very strained relations with the U.S., these three countries are facing a critical moment. They must respond to Trump’s request to accept deportees and contend with a potential decrease in remittances from immigrants in the U.S., which could be a significant source of income for their economies. The Trump transition team did not respond to requests for comments on this matter.