More than 2,300 Mexicans sent to Guatemala and Honduras as Trump ramps
up third-country deportations
[August 21, 2026]
By SONIA PÉREZ D., MARÍA VERZA and MARLON GONZÁLEZ
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — The United States has deported nearly 2,300
Mexicans to Guatemala this year and sent at least dozens more to
Honduras, according to official data, a shift from the beginning of U.S.
President Donald Trump’s second term when such transfers were minimal.
Until now, Mexicans deported from the United States were sent almost
exclusively back to their country by air and land. Only a handful
arrived in other countries.
Some civil organizations believe this change reported in recent days is
a way to increase pressure on Mexico, whose government has protested the
deaths of 17 Mexicans in immigration custody or during enforcement
operations. This also comes as Trump has expanded agreements with allied
Latin American countries to conduct joint operations in the region
against criminal groups and has increased its security demands to
Mexico.
Sent to Central America by plane and Mexico by bus
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo confirmed Wednesday night that, so
far this year, 2,284 Mexicans deported from the U.S. have arrived in the
country as part of a “transit stopover” before being taken to Mexico as
part of an “arrangement” with the Mexican government, and without these
individuals being under any refugee or asylum status.
“They are arriving on planes carrying Guatemalan returnees, and what we
have done is bring them in transit so that, in coordination with Mexican
immigration authorities, we can return them to Mexican territory within
24 hours of their arrival in the country,” he explained at a press
conference.
The costs of these operations are covered by the Mexican government or,
in some cases, by U.S. funding, he added.
Mexico’s National Migration Institute (INM) confirmed to The Associated
Press in a brief message that Mexicans have been deported by the Trump
administration to Guatemala and Honduras, primarily since April, and are
then transported by bus to southern Mexico.
“The reason is that the United States wants to prevent them from
crossing back into its territory,” the institution said. The INM did not
provide figures or further details.
Asked about why the Mexicans were sent to Central America and not their
own country, and for more details, the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security, which oversees immigration enforcement, said in an emailed
statement that the administration “is utilizing all lawful options to
carry out the largest deportation operation in history, just as
President Trump promised.”
“The Mexican government has expressed its opposition to this practice to
U.S. authorities and has reiterated that every Mexican citizen has the
right to enter the country,” the Mexican Foreign Ministry said in a
statement on Thursday. It added that Mexico is coordinating with the
countries involved to ensure the safe return of Mexican citizens.
Third-country deportations raise concerns for Mexican migrants
Historically, Mexico has always been willing to receive its deported
citizens.
Since Trump’s first term, it has also accepted deportees from third
countries, although the details of immigration agreements with
Washington have usually been opaque. In 2025, Mexico received some
12,000 deported foreigners, mostly Cubans and Venezuelans, according to
figures provided by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The government
has not updated these figures since December although the practice has
continued.
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Guatemalans deported from the U.S. arrive at La Aurora airport in
Guatemala City, Dec. 30, 2025, after deplaning a repatriation
flight. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo, File)
Authorities in Honduras also did not respond to requests for comment,
but according to official documents from the country accessed by The
Associated Press, 82 Mexicans deported from the United States arrived in
the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula on two flights on August 13 and 15.
An additional 35 arrived on Thursday.
Another 165 Mexicans were deported to Honduras between May and mid-July,
according to the website Third Country Deportation Watch, run by the
NGOs Human Rights First and Refugees International, which track U.S.
deportation flights to third countries.
The website does not clarify the source of its nationality figures, but
both organizations have expressed concern because these transfers could
endanger migrants who possibly sought asylum in the U.S. or have few
resources in an unknown country.
The deportation tactic “seems to be to put pressure on the Mexican
government,” said Savitri Arvey of Human Rights First. “They really
don’t want any Mexicans crossing the border.” Some of those deported
arrived in Honduras on U.S. military flights, she added.
A recent change in the deportation pattern
At the beginning of his second term, with immigration control as one of
his priorities, Trump reached agreements with Mexico, Guatemala, El
Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama to act as “bridge” or
destination countries for migrants from third countries expelled from
U.S. territory. These agreements gradually expanded to more countries,
including some African ones, most recently Liberia.
Until recently, only a handful of Mexicans had been expelled from the
U.S. to countries other than Mexico.
Arévalo said on Wednesday that Guatemala received 15 Mexicans in 2025.
As of February 2026, Honduras had officially reported the arrival of
six. Costa Rica has received 11 Mexicans since Trump’s return to the
White House, and according to local immigration authorities, they remain
in the country. Presumably, these individuals may have requested not to
be returned to Mexico out of fear.
Immigration lawyers believe that the Trump administration is using
deportations to third countries as a legal loophole to indirectly force
asylum seekers to return to Mexico when the government cannot send them
there because it would violate court orders from immigration judges that
recognize the dangers. Organizations and politicians both inside and
outside the U.S. have also questioned the use of force by U.S.
immigration authorities.
___
Verza reported from Mexico City and González from Tegucigalpa.
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