The U.S. has expelled close to 2,300 Mexican nationals to Guatemala and a few dozen to Honduras this year, a departure from the early days of President Donald Trump’s second term when such deportations were rare. Previously, only a small number of Mexicans had been sent to countries other than Mexico due to the non-refoulement principle in U.S. immigration law and international agreements, which prohibits returning individuals to countries where their rights or safety may be at risk.
The Mexican National Migration Institute confirmed that Mexicans have been deported by the Trump administration to Guatemala and Honduras since April, with transportation to southern Mexico following these deportations. The Mexican government has objected to this practice, emphasizing the right of every Mexican citizen to enter the U.S.
The influx of migrants through Mexico and over the southern U.S. border has often strained relations between the two countries. During Trump’s presidency, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration has raised concerns over the deaths of 17 Mexicans in U.S. immigration custody or enforcement actions.
When questioned about why Mexicans were sent to Central America rather than back to Mexico, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that the administration is utilizing all legal means to execute a significant deportation operation, as promised by President Trump.
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo disclosed that 2,284 deported Mexicans from the U.S. passed through Guatemala as a transit point before being returned to Mexico as part of an arrangement with the Mexican government. Similarly, official records show that 82 Mexicans arrived in Honduras on flights in August, with more arrivals in subsequent days.
Immigration lawyers suspect that deporting individuals to third countries is a strategy to indirectly compel asylum seekers to return to Mexico when direct deportation is not feasible due to legal constraints. The Trump administration has struck agreements with various countries to act as transit or destination points for migrants expelled from the U.S., with Liberia being the latest addition.
The first deportation under the Liberian agreement saw 20 individuals arriving at Roberts International Airport. Deportees include nationals from Africa, North America, South America, and the Caribbean, with the option to seek asylum in Liberia if desired. The U.S. State Department reaffirmed its commitment to curbing illegal immigration and fortifying border security.
