Dozens of migrants have arrived in Guatemala after being deported on a flight from the United States. The Guatemalan Institute of Migration (IGM) reported that a US military aircraft transported 31 women and 48 men to the country.
The 79 migrants are currently being accommodated in shelters managed by the Guatemalan government. IGM director Alfredo Danilo Rivera stated that the government is offering support to the deportees to help them return to their hometowns.
Guatemala’s National Council for Assistance to Migrants of Guatemala (CONAMIGUA) has been providing assistance to the returnees. They have offered personal hygiene products, food, as well as legal, psychological, and transportation aid.
Images released by CONAMIGUA depict the returned migrants interacting with workers and receiving aid before boarding a bus.
These deportations are part of US President Donald Trump’s federal immigration crackdown, which includes the promise to deport millions of individuals back to their countries of origin.
Guatemala’s Foreign Minister Carlos Martínez informed Congress that the government is awaiting information from the US regarding the number of deportation flights and individuals expected to arrive.
IGM director Rivera is set to travel to the Guatemala-Mexico border to coordinate with Mexico’s government on managing migration, as reported by the Guatemalan presidential office.
Efforts have been made to reach out to the Mexican foreign ministry for further details on this upcoming meeting.
