U.S. quietly deporting Mexican migrants to Guatemala and Honduras

The Trump administration has for months been returning Mexican nationals to other Central American countries instead of sending them straight back to Mexico, U.S. officials say, a practice that has drawn sharp objections from Mexico's government.

Two anonymous officials at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security told reporters that immigration authorities have been routing deported Mexicans to Guatemala and Honduras as part of efforts to deter future illegal crossings into the United States.

Hundreds moved, exact totals unclear

According to the officials, the operation has been under way for several months and has already placed several hundred Mexican citizens in Guatemala and Honduras; the precise number has not been disclosed. U.S. authorities say the measure aims to discourage repeat attempts to enter the country illegally.

The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a firm protest, saying that Mexico "accepts the return of all its citizens" and therefore "opposes the deportation of Mexican citizens to third countries and there is no such agreement." The ministry added that Mexico is taking the necessary steps to ensure the safe and dignified return of its nationals.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the administration "is using all lawful authorities to carry out the largest deportation operation in history," as promised by President Trump.

Immigration experts say that while the United States has long moved migrants caught at the southern border into Mexico's interior to discourage re‑entry, sending Mexican nationals to third countries in the region appears to be without precedent. Neither the governments of Guatemala nor Honduras have publicly commented on the allegations.

Photo: press material from the event