GUATEMALA GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY THEY’RE OPEN TO HAVING “CONSTRUCTIVE AND RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE” WITH PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S INCOMING ADMINISTRATION.
TRUMP HAS VOWED MASS DEPORTATIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN HIS SECOND TERM AND PLANS TO START THE PROCESS QUICKLY AFTER HE’S INAUGURATED.
GUATEMALAN OFFICIALS SAY THEIR COUNTRY IS OPEN TO RECEIVING MIGRANTS WHO MAY BE FROM OTHER CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES DEPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES, ACCORDING TO REUTERS.
SO FAR NO SUCH AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES HAS BEEN MADE.
THE U.S. HAS FACED DIFFICULTIES IN DEPORTING CITIZENS FROM COUNTRIES LIKE NICARAGUA, VENEZUELA, AND HAITI DUE TO TENSE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS.
THE BAHAMAS AND MEXICO HAVE ALSO SAID THEY DO NOT WANT TO RECEIVE DEPORTEES FROM THIRD COUNTRIES.
“THERE HAS TO BE A REGIONAL RESPONSE AND WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION,” A GUATEMALAN OFFICIAL TOLD REUTERS ANNONYMOUSLY.
IN A STATEMENT RELEASED THURSDAY, THE GUATEMALAN GOVERNMENT SAID IT IS IN ONGOING TALKS WITH TRUMP’S TRANSITION TEAM BUT HAS YET TO MEET WITH OFFICIALS ABOUT HIS PLAN TO DEPORT RECORD NUMBERS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.
IN LATE NOVEMBER, GUATEMALA’S SECURITY MINISTER AND MIGRATION DIRECTOR VISITED WASHINGTON, WHERE THEY MET WITH SENATOR MARCO RUBIO, TRUMP’S PICK FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, AND OTHER TOP REPUBLICANS TO DISCUSS DRUG TRAFFICKING, MIGRATION, AND DEPORTATIONS, ACCORDING TO REUTERS, SIGNALING GUATEMALA’S INTEREST IN MAINTAINING STRONG TIES WITH THE U.S.