In an exclusive interview with NBC News on Thursday, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo stated that there is no set timeline for when Guatemala will begin receiving third-country nationals deported by the Trump administration.
Arevalo met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week during Rubio’s five-nation tour of Latin America. At a press conference in Guatemala City on Wednesday, the two leaders announced that Guatemala will increase deportation flights from the U.S. by 40% and has agreed to accept certain third-country nationals en route to their home countries.
“This is very important for us given the migration challenges we face,” Rubio said.
Arevalo confirmed that the U.S. will support Guatemala’s efforts to repatriate third-country nationals who arrive in the country but emphasized that he does not anticipate a large influx. Other nations, including Panama, have also committed to assisting with the process.
“There was no discussion of specific numbers or nationalities because that is not the focus of this agreement,” Arevalo explained. “The primary goal is the repatriation of Guatemalans and some Central Americans, while applying established protocols for others.”
A Guatemalan delegation is expected to travel to Washington in the coming weeks to finalize the details. Arevalo stressed that this agreement is distinct from the controversial Safe Third Country deal Guatemala signed with the Trump administration in 2019, which required asylum seekers to apply for protection in Guatemala instead of the U.S.
“This is an example of foreign aid serving our national interest,” Rubio said, noting that he had approved exemptions for certain aid programs to continue supporting Guatemala’s fight against drug trafficking.
Arevalo maintained that Guatemala’s role is not transactional.
“Our main concern is ensuring the safe return of Guatemalans,” he said. “We will also assist Central Americans returning to their home countries, but this is not an arrangement in which we have sought something in return.”
Since Trump’s second term began three weeks ago, Guatemala has already received more than 1,400 deported migrants. For many, the sudden return has been jarring, especially for those who have lived in the U.S. for years.
Andres Sanchez Gomez, who lived in Miami for over eight years, was deported last week.
“As Hispanics, we don’t deserve this,” Gomez said. “We come to work and build a future, not to cause trouble.”
Arevalo acknowledged that deportees who have lived abroad for years will face greater challenges reintegrating than those who left more recently.
“We understand that we are now receiving families and individuals who have spent 10 to 15 years in the United States,” he said. “Their return will not be simple.”
The agreement marks a key victory for the Trump administration, which has launched a large-scale deportation campaign and expanded immigration enforcement nationwide.
