The first foreign trip of the new US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, continues. After visiting Panama, El Salvador and Costa Rica, he stopped in Guatemala on Wednesday. Like in the other Central American countries, Rubio discussed the US migration crisis during a meeting with President Bernardo Arévalo. At a joint press conference following the talks, the two politicians announced a migration agreement.
Arévalo announced that Guatemala would now receive 40% more deportation flights from the US. Guatemala would not only accept its own citizens but also those from other countries. The head of state assured, however, that the deported foreigners would not remain in Guatemala. The goal is to transport the people to their home countries after a temporary stay in Guatemala. The procedure still needs to be worked out in further discussions with the US. The topic of accepting convicted criminals was not discussed.
On Monday, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele had already announced a similar migration agreement with the US. In addition to the talks with Rubio, he expressed his willingness to house, including US citizens, convicted serious offenders in the notorious CECOT megaprison.
Between January 20, when Donald Trump resumed the presidency and February 1, eight deportation flights from the US landed in Guatemala. Most of these were handled by US military aircraft. More than 600 Guatemalans returned to the country. The Guatemalan government has since launched a plan for the reintegration of returnees, who can, among other things, expect humanitarian aid and government programs for education, job search and health.