The United States has deported close to 2,300 Mexican nationals to Guatemala this year, with several dozen also sent to Honduras, as indicated by official records. This marks a notable change from earlier in the second term of U.S. President Donald Trump when such deportations were infrequent.

Formerly, only a small number of Mexicans were repatriated from the U.S. to countries other than Mexico, in adherence to the principle of non-refoulement enshrined in domestic immigration laws and international agreements. This principle prohibits sending migrants back to their home countries or third-party nations where their rights or safety could be at risk due to factors like race, religion, or nationality.

The Mexican National Migration Institute (INM) confirmed that Mexicans have been deported to Guatemala and Honduras by the Trump administration, particularly since April, and subsequently transported by bus to southern Mexico.

Expressing opposition to this practice, the Mexican Foreign Ministry emphasized that every Mexican citizen has the right to enter the U.S. This comes amidst ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Mexico over the influx of migrants crossing the southern U.S. border.

In response to inquiries about why Mexicans were deported to Central America instead of their homeland, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that the administration is utilizing all legal means to execute significant deportation efforts, in line with President Trump’s pledges.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo revealed that 2,284 deported Mexicans from the U.S. have transited through Guatemala before being returned to Mexico under an agreement with the Mexican government. Similarly, official documents show that 82 Mexicans arrived in Honduras on specific deportation flights, with additional individuals arriving subsequently.

Immigration lawyers suggest that the Trump administration is utilizing deportations to third countries as a tactic to indirectly compel asylum seekers to return to Mexico when direct repatriation is not feasible due to legal constraints. These actions are seen as pressure tactics on the Mexican government to curb border crossings.

Under agreements established during Trump’s second term, various countries including Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama serve as intermediary or destination points for migrants expelled from the U.S. to third countries.

In a separate development, the U.S. initiated deportations to Haiti following a legal victory in the Supreme Court. This decision also marked the first deportation under an accord for Liberia to accept up to 1,200 non-citizens.

The Supreme Court ruling allowed the Trump administration to proceed with ending the temporary protected status (TPS) program for Haitians and Syrians, impacting individuals from multiple countries who received TPS protections due to violent conflicts or natural disasters.

Activists have raised concerns about the safety and resources available in Haiti for deportees, given the country’s precarious situation marked by gang violence, poverty, and humanitarian needs. Similarly, Liberia received deportees from the U.S., offering the possibility of seeking asylum for those arriving.

The U.S. State Department reiterated its commitment to curbing illegal immigration and enhancing border security in line with its policies.

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