Guatemala is reportedly the first country to show willingness to receive U.S. deportees from third countries, Reuters reported. The decision comes as the administration of Bernardo Arevalo de Leon seeks to have smooth relations with its incoming American counterpart, the outlet explained.
Concretely, Guatemala would receive citizens from other Central American nations, which constitute a large portion of those making their way up north. "We want to be part of the solution," a Guatemalan official who requested anonymity told Reuters.
Migrants from the so-called "Northern Triangle," which comprises Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, accounted for about 20% of all immigrants living unlawfully in the U.S. by 2022, according to a Department of Homeland Security report cited by the outlet.
The ability to deport nationals from certain countries is key for the success of President-elect Donald Trump's promise to carry out the "largest deportation operation in American history."
Poor relations with countries such as Cuba and Venezuela, and their consequent unwillingness to receive deportees, could prevent the incoming administration from forcibly removing scores of people it has promised to target.
Several other countries, including Mexico, have refused to receive deportees from third countries. In fact, the Claudia Sheinbaum administration is negotiating with regional counterparts to reduce the expected burden on the country.
The intention was confirmed by President Claudia Sheinbaum, who said last week that Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente is "speaking to some other countries whose residents cross our territory to get to the northern border."
Asked about the reports earlier this month, Sheinbaum said in her daily press conference that her government hopes to "reach an agreement with the Trump administration so that, in case these deportations happen, they send people from other countries directly to their countries of origin."
Other countries reportedly under consideration were the Bahamas, Panama, Grenada and Turks and Caicos. However, Panama, Bahamas and Turks and Caicos already rejected the notion.
But even if Mexico doesn't end up taking migrants from third countries, its authorities will still have their plates full. The country is already preventing many migrants from reaching the U.S. southern border under an agreement with the Biden administration, and is also preparing an interagency plan should deportations from Mexicans living without documents in the U.S. increases exponentially.
The country is also set to open over two dozen migrant shelters close to the border. Concretely, Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda said 25 shelters will open exclusively to deal with the expected influx of deported migrants. Five of them will be set up in Tijuana and two others in Mexicali, the capital of Baja.
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