Guatemala Agrees to Accept U.S. Deportees Under New Deal \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo announced his country will accept deported migrants from the U.S., marking the second such agreement brokered by Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his Central America tour. Under the deal, deportees will be flown to their home countries at U.S. expense. El Salvador reached a broader deal earlier, agreeing to accept deportees of any nationality, including American citizens convicted of violent crimes. While Trump and Rubio praised the agreements, legal uncertainties remain. Meanwhile, Rubio’s trip has been overshadowed by the dismantling of USAID, causing concerns among embassy staff.
Guatemala’s Migration Deal with U.S. – Quick Looks
- Deportation Agreement: Guatemala agreed to take in migrants deported from the U.S. and facilitate their return to their home countries.
- U.S. Covers Costs: The deportees will be transported at U.S. government expense under the agreement.
- Increase in Flights: Guatemala will increase deportation flights by 40%, receiving both civilian and military returnees.
- El Salvador’s Similar Deal: El Salvador previously agreed to take in all deportees, including U.S. citizens convicted of violent crimes.
- Legal Concerns: Trump and Rubio acknowledged the uncertainty of whether these deals are legally enforceable.
- Rubio’s Central America Tour: The agreement is part of Rubio’s five-country diplomatic trip, which focuses on immigration policy.
- USAID Controversy: Rubio’s trip has been overshadowed by the administration’s abrupt dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Deep Look
Guatemala Joins U.S. Deportation Plan
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo announced on Wednesday that Guatemala will accept deported migrants from the United States, further expanding cooperation between the two nations on immigration enforcement. The agreement, reached during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s diplomatic tour of Central America, marks the second such deal brokered during the trip.
Under the terms of the new deportation agreement, deportees will be sent back at the expense of the U.S. government. Speaking alongside Rubio at a press conference, Arévalo stated that Guatemala will increase its deportation flight capacity by 40%, accommodating both Guatemalan nationals and deportees from other countries.
Guatemala has already been cooperating with U.S. deportations, receiving returnees on both civilian and military flights. However, this deal further cements its role as a transit hub for deportation operations.
El Salvador Takes a More Aggressive Approach
Guatemala’s decision follows a similar agreement made by El Salvador earlier in the week. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele took an even broader approach, announcing that his country would accept U.S. deportees of any nationality—including American citizens and legal residents convicted of violent crimes.
Bukele’s sweeping policy raised immediate legal and diplomatic questions, particularly regarding the rights of U.S. citizens being deported to foreign countries. While both Guatemala and El Salvador have expressed a willingness to assist with U.S. deportation efforts, the legality of such actions remains in question.
Trump and Rubio Acknowledge Legal Uncertainty
Both President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the potential legal roadblocks surrounding these agreements.
Trump, speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, indicated he would move forward with deporting foreign criminals to third countries if legally feasible.
“I’m just saying if we had a legal right to do it, I would do it in a heartbeat,” Trump told reporters. “I don’t know if we do or not, we’re looking at that right now.”
Rubio echoed similar concerns, noting that while Guatemala’s offer was generous, there were constitutional and legal challenges involved.
“We have a Constitution,” Rubio said, emphasizing that the administration is exploring its legal options.
Rubio’s Five-Country Tour Centers on Immigration
The Guatemala deportation deal is a key part of Rubio’s five-country diplomatic mission, which has focused heavily on immigration policy. His itinerary includes visits to Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic, as the Trump administration seeks to expand cooperation with Central American nations.
However, Rubio’s trip has been overshadowed by controversy surrounding the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
USAID Shutdown Sparks Confusion Among Diplomats
Just as Rubio finalized the deportation deal with Guatemala, his trip was disrupted by the Trump administration’s sudden move to shut down USAID operations.
On Tuesday evening, a late-night directive ordered the immediate withdrawal of nearly all USAID staff from their posts. This abrupt decision has caused uncertainty for U.S. diplomats and foreign aid workers, many of whom are left wondering about the future of American development programs in the region.
Following his press conference with President Arévalo, Rubio made an unscheduled visit to the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, where embassy employees and their families—concerned about their job security and diplomatic missions—gathered to hear from the new Secretary of State.
Although a similar closed-door event had taken place in El Salvador, the Guatemala meeting was also closed to the press, unlike a previous event in Panama on Sunday, which was open to journalists.
The decision to scale back USAID programs in Central America has been met with mixed reactions. While the Trump administration argues that these cuts will reduce foreign aid dependency, critics worry that the move could undermine diplomatic relations and leave vulnerable communities without critical support.
The Road Ahead for U.S.-Central America Relations
As immigration policy remains a central issue in Trump’s second term, agreements like the ones negotiated with Guatemala and El Salvador could reshape the way the U.S. handles deportations. However, with legal questions looming, it remains to be seen whether these policies can be fully implemented.
Meanwhile, the fallout from the USAID shutdown could complicate America’s relationships with key allies in the region, raising concerns about how diplomatic and humanitarian efforts will be managed moving forward.
As Rubio continues his Central America tour, all eyes will be on how these agreements unfold, and whether the legal and diplomatic hurdles can be overcome.
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