Guatemala yesterday said it would postpone President Jimmy Morales’ visit to Washington to discuss Guatemala’s potential designation as a ‘safe third country’ for asylum seekers, stressing that it has no plans to sign such an agreement.
In a statement, Guatemala said the planned meeting between Morales and US President Donald Trump this week had been postponed until the Guatemalan Constitutional Court had ruled on legal challenges.
Last week, five former senior officials appealed to the court to block any agreement with the US that would declare Guatemala a ‘safe third country.’
Under such a deal, Guatemala would be obliged to offer asylum to migrants who entered its territory en route to the US.
Migrants from Honduras and El Salvador heading to the US-Mexican border overland usually cross into Mexico via Guatemala.
Over the past week, opposition has mounted to such a designation for Guatemala, which would radically reshape migration in the region.
“The government of the republic reiterates that at no point it considers signing an agreement to convert Guatemala into a safe third country,” the government said.
Trump had said last month the US and Guatemala were close to reaching a “safe third country agreement” as part of his efforts to curb US-bound migration from Central America.
“The two leaders will also discuss how Guatemala can build a stronger relationship with its Central American partners to expand economic growth, create jobs, and promote opportunities for their citizens,” a statement had added.
Guatemalan rights ombudsman PDH, a government body, launched legal proceedings aimed at stopping Morales, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Jovel, Minister of Interior Enrique Degenhart and others from moving ahead with the safe third country deal.
“It is irresponsible to take a decision that has such wide-reaching consequences,” said Jordan Rodas, who presented the proceeding. “Guatemala does not have the capacity to become a safe third country given its weak institutions.”
The country of 17mn people has its own problems with gang violence and a weak justice system.
Large numbers of Guatemalans have sought refuge in the US, leading civil rights groups to warn it is not a safe destination for asylum seekers.
Guatemala has one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America, according to United Nations data.
Giovanni Filippo Bassu, the regional representative for the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said in June that Guatemala had a long way to go before it would be safe for asylum seekers fleeing neighbouring countries.
Guatemalans claiming asylum in the US outnumbered those from Honduras and El Salvador in 2017, according to data available from the US Department of Homeland Security.
The apprehension by US authorities of Central American migrants, including large numbers of families and asylum seekers, reached a more than decade high in May.
Trump has applied increasing pressure on Mexico and Central America to stem the flows.
Cracking down on immigration has been a long-standing priority for Trump.
In June, he moved to cut US aid to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras over the rise in migration numbers, but added that Guatemala “is much different than it was under past administrations.”
The only other safe third country agreement currently maintained by the US was negotiated with Canada in 2002.
Guatemalan migrants gather their belongings at a reception centre for returnees, upon their arrival from the US, in Guatemala City, Guatemala.Morales delays Trump meet,
not to sign deal on migrants
Reuters
Mexico City
Guatemala yesterday said it would postpone President Jimmy Morales’ visit to Washington to discuss Guatemala’s potential designation as a ‘safe third country’ for asylum seekers, stressing that it has no plans to sign such an agreement.
In a statement, Guatemala said the planned meeting between Morales and US President Donald Trump this week had been postponed until the Guatemalan Constitutional Court had ruled on legal challenges.
Last week, five former senior officials appealed to the court to block any agreement with the US that would declare Guatemala a ‘safe third country.’
Under such a deal, Guatemala would be obliged to offer asylum to migrants who entered its territory en route to the US.
Migrants from Honduras and El Salvador heading to the US-Mexican border overland usually cross into Mexico via Guatemala.
Over the past week, opposition has mounted to such a designation for Guatemala, which would radically reshape migration in the region.
“The government of the republic reiterates that at no point it considers signing an agreement to convert Guatemala into a safe third country,” the government said.
Trump had said last month the US and Guatemala were close to reaching a “safe third country agreement” as part of his efforts to curb US-bound migration from Central America.
“The two leaders will also discuss how Guatemala can build a stronger relationship with its Central American partners to expand economic growth, create jobs, and promote opportunities for their citizens,” a statement had added.
Guatemalan rights ombudsman PDH, a government body, launched legal proceedings aimed at stopping Morales, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Jovel, Minister of Interior Enrique Degenhart and others from moving ahead with the safe third country deal.
“It is irresponsible to take a decision that has such wide-reaching consequences,” said Jordan Rodas, who presented the proceeding. “Guatemala does not have the capacity to become a safe third country given its weak institutions.”
The country of 17mn people has its own problems with gang violence and a weak justice system.
Large numbers of Guatemalans have sought refuge in the US, leading civil rights groups to warn it is not a safe destination for asylum seekers.
Guatemala has one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America, according to United Nations data.
Giovanni Filippo Bassu, the regional representative for the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said in June that Guatemala had a long way to go before it would be safe for asylum seekers fleeing neighbouring countries.
Guatemalans claiming asylum in the US outnumbered those from Honduras and El Salvador in 2017, according to data available from the US Department of Homeland Security.
The apprehension by US authorities of Central American migrants, including large numbers of families and asylum seekers, reached a more than decade high in May.
Trump has applied increasing pressure on Mexico and Central America to stem the flows.
Cracking down on immigration has been a long-standing priority for Trump.
In June, he moved to cut US aid to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras over the rise in migration numbers, but added that Guatemala “is much different than it was under past administrations.”
The only other safe third country agreement currently maintained by the US was negotiated with Canada in 2002.
Guatemalan migrants gather their belongings at a reception centre for returnees, upon their arrival from the US, in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
