In a significant shift in immigration policy, Guatemala has agreed to expand its role in accepting deportees from the United States, marking a key development in U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s diplomatic tour of Central America. The announcement comes amid major changes at USAID and represents the latest move in the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement strategy.
Guatemala expands deportee acceptance agreement
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo announced a 40% increase in deportation flights following meetings with Secretary Rubio in Guatemala City. Under the new “safe third country” agreement, Guatemala will accept not only its own nationals but also migrants from other countries who are deported from the United States.
“We have agreed to increase by 40% the number of flights of deportees both of our nationality as well as deportees from other nationalities,” Arevalo stated during a joint news conference with Rubio.
USAID disruption and policy shifts
During the visit, Rubio addressed the recent upheaval at USAID, where most overseas workers are being recalled. He explained that while the initial plan was to maintain operations during a review process, lack of cooperation and “insubordination” led to more drastic measures.
“It is not the direction I wanted it. It’s not the way we wanted to do it initially, but it is the way we will have to do it now,” Rubio explained, emphasizing concerns about foreign aid alignment with U.S. national interests.
Regional impact and economic considerations
The expanded deportation agreement could significantly impact Guatemala’s economy, where remittances from citizens working abroad constitute approximately one-fifth of the country’s GDP. This marks a notable shift from Arevalo’s earlier position, when he had described his predecessor’s “safe third country” agreement with Trump as “absolutely inadequate.”
The Guatemala agreement follows a similar but broader arrangement made with El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele agreed to accept U.S. deportees of any nationality, including American citizens and legal residents convicted of violent crimes.
