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Guatemala becomes transit point for nearly 2,300 Mexicans deported from U.S. in 2026
🇲🇽 Mexico /Energy & Infrastructure

Guatemala becomes transit point for nearly 2,300 Mexicans deported from U.S. in 2026

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The United States is deporting nearly 2,300 Mexicans to Guatemala in 2026 as a transit point before returning them to Mexico within 24 hours.
  • This shift in deportation policy, noted since the start of Donald Trump's second term, contrasts with earlier minimal transfers.
  • Mexican and Guatemalan authorities are coordinating these transit deportations, with costs covered by Mexico or US funding, to prevent re-entry into the U.S.

The United States has begun deporting nearly 2,300 Mexicans to Guatemala in 2026, using the Central American nation as a transit point before sending them back to Mexico within 24 hours. This marks a significant change from the initial period of Donald Trump's second term, when such transfers were minimal, according to authorities.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo confirmed that 2,284 Mexicans had arrived in Guatemala this year as part of an arrangement with the Mexican government. These individuals are not seeking refuge or asylum in Guatemala. They arrive on repatriation flights and are then transferred to Mexican territory in coordination with Mexican immigration authorities.

The expenses for these operations are covered by the Mexican government, with some instances of U.S. funding. The National Institute of Migration in Mexico confirmed that Mexicans have been deported by the Trump administration to Guatemala and Honduras primarily since April, and subsequently transported by bus to southern Mexico. This strategy aims to prevent them from crossing back into the U.S.

While the Mexican Foreign Ministry has not responded to requests for comment, Mexico has historically accepted its deported citizens. However, clarity on migration agreements with Washington has been lacking since Trump's first term. Official documents from Honduras indicate that 82 Mexicans deported from the U.S. arrived in San Pedro Sula on two flights in August, with more expected. Additionally, 165 Mexicans were deported to Honduras between May and mid-July.

La causa es que Estados Unidos quiere evitar que vuelvan a cruzar a su territorio

— National Institute of MigrationThe Mexican National Institute of Migration explaining the reason behind the transit deportations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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