Guatemalan President Consent to Accept Deportees from All Nationalities – One America News Network
OAN Staff Blake Wolf
4:02 PM – Wednesday, February 5, 2025
On Wednesday, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo announced his country’s readiness to accept migrants deported during the Trump administration, independent of their nationality.
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“We have reached an agreement to increase by 40% the number of flights carrying deportees, both of our own nationals and those from other countries,” Arevalo mentioned.
These remarks were made during a visit from Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
This announcement follows a similar arrangement made by El Salvador‘s President, Nayib Bukele, who also agreed to accept deportees, irrespective of their nationality. Bukele added that El Salvador is open to accepting American criminals convicted of violent offenses, should the U.S. choose to send them to create more space.
“We can transport them, and he can house them in his prisons,” Rubio noted when discussing the agreement with Guatemala’s president. “He has also offered to take in dangerous criminals currently serving sentences in the U.S., regardless of whether they are U.S. citizens or legal residents.”
“This represents a type of foreign aid that aligns with our national interests. That’s why I’ve authorized a waiver for these programs. We are reinstituting these programs, as they demonstrate to the American people foreign aid that aligns with our policies and interests,” Rubio elaborated.
Former President Donald Trump reacted to Arevalo’s proposal, expressing interest.
“If we possessed the legal authority, I would do it instantly,” Trump said on Tuesday regarding the potential for sending violent American criminals to serve their sentences abroad. “I’m uncertain if we have that authority; we are exploring that possibility right now.”
Currently, Guatemala intends to temporarily house migrants awaiting deportation back to their countries. In exchange for providing this space, the U.S. will compensate Guatemala with a fee.
“The ultimate solution to migration is to foster development so that no one feels compelled to leave their home country,” Arevalo concluded.
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