GUATEMALA CITY (AP) 鈥� The United States has deported nearly 2,300 to this year and sent at least dozens more to according to official data, a shift from the beginning of U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 second term when such transfers were minimal.
Until now, Mexicans deported from the United States were sent almost exclusively back to their country by air and land. Only a handful arrived in other countries.
Some civil organizations believe this change reported in recent days is a way to increase pressure on Mexico, whose government has in immigration custody or during enforcement operations. This also comes as Trump has expanded agreements with allied Latin American countries to against criminal groups and has increased its security demands to Mexico.
Sent to Central America by plane and Mexico by bus
confirmed Wednesday night that, so far this year, 2,284 Mexicans deported from the U.S. have arrived in the country as part of a 鈥渢ransit stopover鈥� before being taken to Mexico as part of an 鈥渁rrangement鈥� with the Mexican government, and without these individuals being under any refugee or asylum status.
鈥淭hey are arriving on planes carrying Guatemalan returnees, and what we have done is bring them in transit so that, in coordination with Mexican immigration authorities, we can return them to Mexican territory within 24 hours of their arrival in the country,鈥� he explained at a press conference.
The costs of these operations are covered by the Mexican government or, in some cases, by U.S. funding, he added.
Mexico鈥檚 National Migration Institute (INM) confirmed to The Associated Press in a brief message that Mexicans have been deported by the Trump administration to Guatemala and Honduras, primarily since April, and are then transported by bus to southern Mexico.
鈥淭he reason is that the United States wants to prevent them from crossing back into its territory,鈥� the institution said. The INM did not provide figures or further details.
Asked about why the Mexicans were sent to Central America and not their own country, and for more details, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration enforcement, said in an emailed statement that the administration 鈥渋s utilizing all lawful options to carry out the largest deportation operation in history, just as President Trump promised.鈥�
鈥淭he Mexican government has expressed its opposition to this practice to U.S. authorities and has reiterated that every Mexican citizen has the right to enter the country,鈥� the Mexican Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. It added that Mexico is coordinating with the countries involved to ensure the safe return of Mexican citizens.
Third-country deportations raise concerns for Mexican migrants
Historically, Mexico has always been willing to receive its deported citizens.
Since Trump鈥檚 first term, it has also although the details of immigration agreements with Washington have usually been opaque. In 2025, Mexico received some 12,000 deported foreigners, according to figures provided by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The government has not updated these figures since December although the practice has continued.
Authorities in Honduras also did not respond to requests for comment, but according to official documents from the country accessed by The Associated Press, 82 Mexicans deported from the United States arrived in the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula on two flights on August 13 and 15. An additional 35 were scheduled to arrive on Thursday.
Another 165 Mexicans were deported to Honduras between May and mid-July, according to the website Third Country Deportation Watch, run by the NGOs Human Rights First and Refugees International, which track U.S. deportation flights to third countries.
The website does not clarify the source of its nationality figures, but both organizations have expressed concern because these transfers could endanger migrants who possibly sought asylum in the U.S. or have few resources in an unknown country.
The deportation tactic 鈥渟eems to be to put pressure on the Mexican government,鈥� said Savitri Arvey of Human Rights First. 鈥淭hey really don鈥檛 want any Mexicans crossing the border.鈥� Some of those deported arrived in Honduras on U.S. military flights, she added.
A recent change in the deportation pattern
At the beginning of his second term, with immigration control as one of his priorities, Trump reached agreements with Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama from third countries expelled from U.S. territory. These agreements gradually expanded to more countries, including some African ones,
Until recently, only a handful of Mexicans had been expelled from the U.S. to countries other than Mexico.
Ar茅valo said on Wednesday that Guatemala received 15 Mexicans in 2025. As of February 2026, Honduras had officially reported the arrival of six. Costa Rica has received 11 Mexicans since Trump鈥檚 return to the White House, and according to local immigration authorities, they remain in the country. Presumably, these individuals may have requested not to be returned to Mexico out of fear.
Immigration lawyers believe that the Trump administration is using deportations to third countries as a legal loophole to indirectly force asylum seekers to return to Mexico when the government cannot send them there because it would violate court orders from immigration judges that recognize the dangers. Organizations and politicians both inside and outside the U.S. have also .
___
Verza reported from Mexico City and Gonz谩lez from Tegucigalpa.
Follow AP鈥檚 Latin America coverage at
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
