The United States has expelled close to 2,300 Mexican nationals to Guatemala this year and sent a smaller number to Honduras, as per official records. This marks a departure from the early stages of President Donald Trump’s second term when such deportations were infrequent. Previously, only a few Mexicans had been sent to countries other than Mexico due to the non-refoulement principle in U.S. immigration law and international agreements, which prevent returning individuals to places where their rights or safety might be at risk.
The Mexican National Migration Institute (INM) acknowledged that Mexicans have been deported to Guatemala and Honduras by the Trump administration since April, with transportation to southern Mexico following these deportations. The Mexican government has objected to this practice, emphasizing every Mexican’s right to enter the U.S.
Tensions have arisen between Mexico and the U.S. over the flow of migrants crossing their shared border. The Mexican government has also voiced concerns about the deaths of 17 Mexicans in U.S. immigration custody during the Trump administration’s second term.
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo disclosed that 2,284 Mexicans deported from the U.S. arrived in Guatemala this year before being transferred to Mexico with the coordination of Mexican immigration authorities. Similarly, Honduran officials did not comment, but records show that 82 Mexicans were deported to Honduras in August, with additional deportations in the preceding months.
Legal experts believe the U.S. is exploiting third-country deportations as a strategy to indirectly compel asylum seekers to return to Mexico, circumventing court orders that prevent sending them back due to safety concerns. President Trump’s administration has struck agreements with various countries to act as transit points for migrants expelled from the U.S., including recent agreements with African nations like Liberia.
The first deportation under the Liberia agreement saw 20 individuals arriving in Monrovia. The Liberian government has stated that deportees from various regions can seek asylum in the country if they choose to. The U.S. State Department has reiterated its commitment to curbing illegal immigration and strengthening border security.