Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Guatemala Says 2,300 Mexicans Transited After U.S. Deportations
The United States deported some Mexican people on flights that also carried Guatemalans returning home.
Guatemala says about 2,300 Mexicans entered the country this way in 2026.
They stayed for less than one day.
Guatemala then sent them to Mexico.
Guatemala’s president said the people were only passing through.
He also said Guatemala did not give them homes or refuge.
Mexico had previously said it did not agree to receive Mexicans in another country first.
The reports did not include an immediate response from Mexico or Honduras to Reuters’ questions.
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo said about 2,300 Mexicans deported from the United States entered Guatemala in 2026.
The Mexicans reportedly arrived on planes carrying Guatemalan deportees and were transferred to Mexico within 24 hours.
Arevalo said Guatemala processed them as people in transit and did not house or grant them refuge.
He said Guatemala is not acting as a “safe third country” for the deported Mexicans.
Mexico had previously told CBS it rejected deportations of Mexicans to third countries and denied making such agreements.
- Who
- Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo said about 2,300 Mexicans deported from the United States were transferred through Guatemala to Mexico.
- What
- Mexican deportees reportedly entered Guatemala alongside returning Guatemalans and were processed as people in transit.
- When
- The transfers occurred during 2026; Arevalo’s comments were aired late Wednesday, August 20.
- Where
- The deportees were flown to Guatemala and then transferred to Mexico.
- Why
- The transfers were reportedly part of U.S. efforts to deter illegal migration and deport people considered to be staying unlawfully in the United States.
Guatemala’s account
Mexico’s stated position
Whether Guatemala accepted a third-country role
Guatemala’s account
Bernardo Arevalo said the Mexicans were only in transit, remained in Guatemala for less than 24 hours, and were not housed or granted refuge. He said Guatemala is not a “safe third country.”
Mexico’s stated position
Mexican authorities had previously told CBS that Mexico rejected the deportation of Mexicans to third countries and had not made such agreements.
How the transfers were arranged
Guatemala’s account
Guatemala said it coordinated with Mexican immigration authorities to process the arriving Mexicans and transfer them onward.
Mexico’s stated position
Mexico’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment, and its earlier statements questioned whether such arrangements had been agreed.
- Reported number
- Around 2,300 Mexicans
- Time period
- So far in 2026
- Transit duration
- Less than 24 hours in Guatemala
- Final destination
- Mexico
- Guatemala’s role
- Processing deportees as people in transit
- Refuge offered
- Guatemala said the Mexicans were not housed or granted refuge
- U.S. policy context
- The Trump administration has reportedly used third-country arrangements in the Americas for deportations