Bernardo Arévalo Confirms Guatemala Received Over 2,000 Mexican Deportees from the United States
Guatemala has received 2,284 Mexican nationals deported by the United States since May 2026. President Bernardo Arévalo stated that while these migrants are processed as transit passengers rather than asylum seekers, Guatemala does not officially serve as a 'third safe country' for Mexico. Under the administration, the United States is utilizing these third-country agreements to expedite asylum cases and deter migrants from returning to the U.S.-Mexico border. The Mexican Foreign Ministry expressed disagreement with the practice, noting that Mexico is financing the return of these deportees via bus to the southern border. While the administration announced the strategy to reduce the number of migrants attempting to cross the border, the Customs and Border Protection Office reports that border apprehensions are currently at their lowest levels in half a century. Mexico continues to offer consular protection to its citizens, protesting the decision to send Mexican nationals to Central American countries instead of directly back to their home country.