In February, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed deals with El Salvador and Guatemala that allowed the US to send migrants from other nations there.
Guatemala and Honduras have signed new agreements with the United States that could allow them to take in migrants from other nations who would otherwise seek asylum in the U.S., Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Thursday at the end of her visit to Central America.
These agreements are part of the Trump administration’s broader plan to increase deportations by giving the U.S. more flexibility in returning migrants—not just to their home countries, but also to third-party nations.
“The idea is to offer alternatives to migrants beyond just coming to the U.S.,” said Noem. “We’ve been negotiating with Honduras and Guatemala for months. These deals are about providing safety, not necessarily U.S. entry.”
Under the new agreements, asylum seekers can be sent to Honduras or Guatemala, where they may be granted refugee status.
Safe-Third Country Agreements Revived
This move revives a policy used during Trump’s first term, when the U.S. signed similar “safe-third country” agreements with Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. These agreements allowed the U.S. to deny asylum to certain migrants and send them to those countries instead. A similar arrangement has existed between the U.S. and Canada since 2002.
However, these Central American nations have faced criticism for lacking the resources and infrastructure needed to process large numbers of asylum applications—especially as many of their own citizens have fled north to escape violence and poverty.
In February, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed updated deals with El Salvador and Guatemala. The Guatemala deal permitted the U.S. to use the country as a transit point for migrants being returned to their homelands, not as a place to apply for asylum. The El Salvador deal went further, allowing the U.S. to detain certain migrants there.
Mexico Refuses, But Still Accepts Migrants
Meanwhile, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum made it clear this week that Mexico will not sign a third-country agreement. Still, she noted that Mexico has already accepted over 5,000 deported migrants from other nations since Trump returned to office, citing humanitarian reasons and efforts to help return them home.
Panama and Costa Rica Also in the Mix
The U.S. has also made similar arrangements with Panama and Costa Rica. While these deals are in place, the actual number of migrants sent there remains small—299 to Panama and fewer than 200 to Costa Rica in February alone.
More Deportation Options for U.S.
These deals provide the U.S. with more pathways to deport migrants—especially those from countries where direct repatriation is difficult—offering Washington greater leverage and alternatives as it enforces stricter immigration controls.
