Guatemala is reportedly willing to assist President-elect Donald Trump on a key part of his mission to expel large numbers of illegal immigrants from the United States.
The Guatemalan government is not opposed to accepting its nationals or other Central Americans deported by the United States. According to This was confirmed by Reuters and multiple sources. Such a move would likely be a big boon for the incoming Trump administration, as Nicaragua and many other countries are reluctant to return their nationals ordered to leave the United States. (Related: Exclusive: Tom Homan's message to Democrats planning to resist Trump's deportation plan)
“We need a regional response,” a Guatemalan official told Reuters. “And we want to be part of the solution.”
Trump, who won a landslide election after campaigning on a platform of tough immigration enforcement, promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in the country's history. However, this commitment could be hampered by a number of logistical hurdles, one of which is that some of the major sources of illegal immigration are refusing to return their nationals.
Guatemalan immigrant returnee Antonio Morales, 28, looks out the window before landing on a deportation flight from Mesa, Arizona, to Guatemala City on June 24, 2011. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
The number of recalcitrant countries, or governments that refuse to accept or delay the repatriation of nationals ordered to be expelled from the United States, has varied over the years, depending on sanctions imposed by Washington, D.C., and other factors. are. July House Republicans revealed 13 countries People who are currently considered rebellious or uncooperative.
Foreign governments refusing to return their nationals has long frustrated federal immigration officials in multiple administrations. Instead of being detained indefinitely, many of these illegal immigrants could simply be released into the United States, even if immigration judges order them to be repatriated.
This is not a new problem for the Trump administration. President Trump began his first term imposed Visa sanctions against several countries that refused to accept deported nationals. Ahead of his second term in office, his aides have been considering various ideas for what to do with the huge number of deportees from rebellious countries, including the possibility of sending them to Caribbean islands. Ta.
Under the Biden-Harris administration, federal immigration authorities and cities across the country have been hit by an unprecedented illegal immigration crisis. Managing this ordeal was made even more difficult by the influence of Venezuela. second highest sources of illegal immigration to the United States; We have stopped accepting applications. Deportation flight in February.
Other major sources of illegal immigration, including China, Haiti, and Cuba, have refused to cooperate with U.S. deportation operations. Nicaragua has also been uncooperative with Washington, D.C., amid rising tensions over migrant smuggling and political repression. escalated.
However, Reuters reports that the Guatemalan government, which is aiming for a more friendly relationship with the Trump administration, has already met with Trump transition members and Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who has been nominated to be the next secretary of state. Ta. The Central American country is preparing to welcome large numbers of its compatriots next year.
“We're not ready for it yet, but we know it's coming,” a Guatemalan government official told Reuters.
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