This archive report was first published on 5 July 2019.
Published on July 5, 2019, Guatemalan authorities conducted a nationwide operation to identify and return unqualified migrants trying to reach the United States.
The operation, which targeted towns, villages, and bus stations, aimed to capture those ineligible for the immigration process. Authorities said those taken into custody include Hondurans, Salvadorans, Haitians, Brazilians, and one person of African origin.
Police carried out the operation in several strategic points throughout the country to identify migrants passing through Guatemala to reach the US. This marked the first known police operation conducted simultaneously in different locations to specifically target migrants.
Guatemalan authorities assured that they would respect the human rights and physical integrity of people temporarily in the country. They also offered assistance to those who don't meet the legal requirements to be in Guatemala and want to return voluntarily to their home countries.
The operation comes after the White House announced it was cutting off aid to the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador in March. President Donald Trump stated that the countries were setting up migrant caravans for entry into the United States.
However, in March, the Department of Homeland Security signed a regional agreement with the Northern Triangle countries aimed at preventing irregular migration, combating criminal organizations, and ultimately helping with US border security.
