U.S. Secretly Sends Some Mexican Deportees To Guatemala And Honduras
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told CBS News on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, that the United States has quietly deported hundreds of Mexican migrants to Guatemala and Honduras instead of returning them to Mexico.[1]
DHS officials said the flights were routed to bypass Mexican territory and that the program has been in place for several months.[1] CBS reported that hundreds of Mexican citizens were sent to those countries on the redirected flights.[1] Mexico's Foreign Ministry formally said it accepts the return of all its nationals and rejects deportations of Mexicans to third countries, saying no such agreement exists.[1]
Immigration policy experts cited by CBS called deporting Mexican nationals to other Latin American countries unprecedented and said it appears intended to deter illegal immigration by increasing hardship for migrants.[1] Mexico has voiced anger at the practice.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, DHS officials told CBS News the U.S. has been quietly deporting Mexican migrants to Guatemala and Honduras for several months.
- The officials said hundreds of Mexican citizens have been sent to those countries instead of being returned to Mexico, with flights routed around Mexican territory.
- Mexico's Foreign Ministry formally stated it accepts the return of all its nationals and rejects deportations of Mexicans to third countries, saying no such agreement exists.
- Immigration policy experts cited in the article say deporting Mexican nationals to other Latin American countries is unprecedented and appears designed to deter illegal immigration by increasing hardship.
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