On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new agreement with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo, under which Guatemala will accept migrants deported from the United States, including individuals from other countries. The deal forms part of a broader initiative aimed at addressing immigration issues, a key priority for the Trump administration.
As part of the “safe third country” agreement, Guatemala will increase deportation flights by 40%, including both Guatemalan nationals and those from other countries. “We have agreed to increase the number of deportation flights to ensure efficient repatriation,” President Arévalo said during a joint press conference with Rubio.
The announcement comes just days after El Salvador unveiled a similar arrangement, which extends to U.S. deportees of all nationalities, including American citizens and legal residents convicted of violent crimes. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele confirmed his country’s willingness to accept such deportees.
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Rubio Defends USAID Shutdown Amid Resisting Staff
Rubio’s Central American visit, which marks his first trip abroad as America’s top diplomat, has seen immigration at the forefront. The Secretary of State also made with strong defenses of controversial U.S. policy moves, including the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and President Donald Trump’s proposal to take control of the Gaza Strip.
During the press conference, Rubio explained the U.S. decision to close USAID, citing “insubordination” within the agency and a lack of cooperation regarding budget and program justification. He described the move as a necessary step after employees resisted efforts to align the agency’s objectives with U.S. foreign policy priorities.
Rubio Supports Trump’s Gaza Proposal
In a broader geopolitical context, Rubio also voiced support for Trump’s recent proposal on Gaza, calling it a “generous” offer to rebuild the region. He emphasized that the U.S. would not view the proposal as hostile but rather as an opportunity to transform Gaza into a prosperous area, akin to “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
Rubio further clarified that Gaza, devastated by conflict, could not be inhabited due to unexploded munitions and debris, stressing that resettlement was an interim solution until the region could be rebuilt.
USAID Withdrawal and Strategic Foreign Aid Changes
This announcement follows the Trump administration’s recent order to withdraw nearly all of USAID’s overseas staff, a move Rubio justified by pointing to the agency’s failure to meet U.S. national interests.
“What would be a gift to our geopolitical rivals is billions of dollars in foreign aid that is not aligned with U.S. foreign policy,” Rubio said, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to reorienting foreign aid towards national security objectives.
