GUATEMALA CITY — During a recent tour of Central America, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that both Guatemala and Honduras have reached agreements with the United States. These agreements aim to offer potential refuge to individuals from other countries who might otherwise seek asylum within the U.S. This initiative reflects an ongoing strategy to grant the U.S. government more leeway in the repatriation process, enabling the return of migrants not only to their home countries but also to third nations.
Noem articulated the agreements as alternatives for asylum seekers, suggesting they provide options beyond migrating to the United States. She noted that these agreements have been under negotiation for months, with the U.S. exerting significant pressure on both Honduras and Guatemala to finalize the deals.
During a statement, Noem remarked, “Both Honduras and Guatemala, following today’s discussions, have undertaken to accept these individuals and offer them refugee status. We’ve maintained the perspective that the United States being the sole option isn’t necessary; safety and protection for refugees can be provided elsewhere too.”
However, following Noem’s announcement, officials from both Guatemala and Honduras denied signing what are known as safe third-country agreements. The presidential communications office in Guatemala clarified that no agreements concerning immigration, including a safe third-country deal, had been signed during Noem’s visit. They reiterated Guatemala’s role as a temporary stop for Central Americans being sent back by the United States, not as a destination for asylum.
Noem acknowledged the political complexities involved for these countries, noting, “Politically, reaching this agreement is challenging for their governments.” These agreements may face domestic criticism due to the limited resources available in both countries and varying public sentiments regarding cooperation with the Trump administration on such policies.
During Noem’s discussions in Guatemala, a previously signed agreement was presented, followed by a public signing event for a memorandum of understanding. This established a Joint Security Program, which will station U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Guatemalan capital’s international airport for cooperative efforts in identifying terrorist threats. On the other hand, Honduran immigration director Wilson Paz disputed the signing of such agreements, and a response from its Foreign Affairs Ministry was not immediately forthcoming.
In the earlier days of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, safe third-country agreements were established with El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. These allowed the U.S. to reject asylum claims, designating these nations as safe harbors where asylum applications could be considered. A similar long-standing agreement exists between the U.S. and Canada since 2002.
During Trump’s tenure, the agreements faced practical hurdles, as numerous citizens from these Central American nations were fleeing north to the U.S. to escape poverty and violence. Their facilities for handling asylum requests were also notably underfunded and insufficient.
In February, further arrangements were made when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed deals with El Salvador and Guatemala, which facilitated the U.S. sending migrants to these countries. The agreement with Guatemala stipulated that it serve merely as a transit point, whereas El Salvador’s arrangement was broader, enabling migrant detention.
Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has stated Mexico would not enter into a safe third-country agreement, though the country has received over 5,000 deported migrants from the U.S. since Trump’s inception, through humanitarian channels to assist in their repatriation.
Additionally, similar accords have been reached with Panama and Costa Rica, though the number of migrants relocated there remains modest. In February, the U.S. transferred 299 individuals to Panama and fewer than 200 to Costa Rica. These agreements grant U.S. authorities added venues for handling migrants from countries with challenging conditions for direct returns.
**Contributed by Sherman from Mexico City.**