Guatemala has received 2,284 Mexicans deported by the United States so far this year, President Bernardo Arevalo confirmed, saying they arrived on flights carrying Guatemalan returnees. The deportees were held temporarily before being transferred to Mexico within 24 hours under a bilateral arrangement, with transportation costs covered by either the US or Mexican government. Arevalo described the Central American nation as a "transit stopover" in the process.
Mexico's Foreign Ministry has objected to the practice, stating that the US should not reroute its citizens through third countries. Officials reiterated that every Mexican national has the right to return directly to Mexico and confirmed coordination with involved governments to ensure safe repatriation. The ministry did not provide figures on the number of cases or financial details.
Separate reports indicate some Mexican deportees have also been sent to Honduras. According to data from Human Rights First and Refugees International, Honduras received 165 Mexican nationals by mid-July, with an additional 37 arriving by mid-August. The Associated Press cited Honduran documents showing 82 Mexican deportees landed in San Pedro Sula last week, with 35 more expected. The Honduran government has not issued a statement.
Immigration experts suggest the US is using third-country transfers to increase the distance between deported migrants and the US-Mexico border, potentially discouraging return attempts. The practice operates under bilateral agreements, despite international norms favoring direct deportation to a person's home country.
The US is rerouting Mexican deportees through Guatemala and Honduras despite Mexico's formal objection, turning regional transit routes into tools of migration deterrence. This shift places logistical and diplomatic pressure on neighboring governments while challenging Mexico's authority over the return of its own citizens.
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