US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reached a second deportation deal with Guatemala, expanding the program that sends migrants being deported from the US back to their home countries at US expense.
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo announced the agreement on Wednesday, stating it will increase the number of flights by 40% for both Guatemalans and deportees from other nationalities. The US will cover the cost of repatriation.
The deal comes as part of Rubio’s five-country tour in Central America, which has focused on immigration. El Salvador also announced a similar agreement, accepting migrants of any nationality, including American citizens and legal residents who are imprisoned for violent crimes.
Rubio acknowledged the legal uncertainty surrounding deporting Americans to another country but expressed his support for the program. He emphasized that the US has a Constitution and will work within its boundaries.
The agreements may help address the Trump administration’s key sticking point in immigration enforcement, as not everyone can be easily sent back home. Venezuela is one example of a country where the US rarely can deport Venezuelans back to their home country due to a robust network set up for Central American countries.
As part of the agreement, Guatemala will expand its capacity to receive migrants from other countries and establish a new border security force to combat transnational crime. A high-level Guatemalan delegation will travel to Washington in the coming weeks to discuss development initiatives.
Rubio’s trip has been overshadowed by the administration’s dismantling of the US Agency for International Development, including a recent order pulling agency staffers off their jobs.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/rubio-guatemala-trump-immigration-migrants-3cae5b616e1535e480e4f68c2641868c