Mass deportation to Guatemala

Guatemala signed a decree declaring that the majority of deportees from the US are received there, even if they are not legal residents of Guatemala.

The deportees who are not Guatemalan citizens have the possibility of requesting asylum there or waiting to be deported to their native countries.

Since the Coronavirus crisis arrived, Guatemala is asking the US to reduce deportations or send only citizens to the country.

Trump’s government suspended deportations to Guatemala for a week and a half. This measure was implemented for the social protection of both countries.

However, the US resumed deportations this week, in fact, on Monday, April 13, 2020, 182 Guatemalans were deported.

Guatemala clearly receives its citizens, however, that does not diminish the imminent threat of a massive contagion in the country.

As it is well known, the US is currently the epicenter of the virus and deporting immigrants in the midst of a health crisis can create many problems because Guatemala does not have the proper medical structure to cover a high peak of infection.

Minors’ deportation

One of the most worrying aspects of the current deportations is that minors are deported to Guatemala without accompaniment.

In other words, they are alone and at great risk of human trafficking and other dangers.

In addition, the risk of contagion is greater when there are so many people crowded on deportation flights.

Guatemala’s request

The Guatemalan government understands that deportations cannot be 100% halted.

All they ask is for health regulations to be stricter before deporting Guatemalan citizens.

Apart from the controls made by the US border entities, Guatemala is also protecting itself with all possible tools to avoid an unstoppable spread of COVID-19.

All deportees from the US are quarantined in a provisional center installed at La Aurora International Airport, in the country’s capital.

The US has always asked for Guatemala’s collaboration to reduce illegal immigration and the current administration offers help to countries that manage to reduce it.

Guatemala is currently asking the US to recognize the decrease in illegal immigration. The figures indicate that it has been reduced by up to 60% since the outbreak of the Coronavirus.

Guatemala’s fear

Guatemala is one of the few countries in the world that has the Coronavirus outbreak under control. So far, the official report states that there are 167 people infected.

The government wants to avoid at all costs a massive spread within its territory.

They do not have enough tools to save lives and that is a very big threat to the socio-economic development of the country.

The deportations are not going to stop, but the measures that both governments are taking are adequate to take care of the population’s health.

It is imperative to avoid illegal immigration at all costs. In fact, the US has many options for immigrants to legally reside and work in the country.

Thus, the options are always open to the public, and perhaps the only thing missing to prevent mass illegal immigration are expert advisers on immigration processes.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.