US begins deporting asylum seekers to Guatemala

Immigration policies have been constantly changing throughout the term of the Trump administration, and as of late November, a new controversial policy has been put in place: deporting asylum seekers to Guatemala. 

The new policy was implemented by the Trump administration after months of negotiating with the Guatemalan government to help curb the amount of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to CBS News. The policy officially started on Thursday, when the first migrant seeking asylum there, a Honduran man, was deported to Guatemala.

This step is the first of many in implementing a recent agreement with the Guatemalan government, which aims to require asylum seekers from other countries to request protection there, as reported by CBS News. More migrants from countries such as Honduras and El Salvador who seek asylum in the U.S. are also expected to be rerouted to Guatemala.

The policy also prevents anyone from applying for asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border if they traveled through another country to get there, according to AP News. 

Asylum is meant for those trying to free themselves of persecution based on their religion, race, political affiliation or part in a social group. As a result, the Trump administration’s policy has been highly controversial, even drawing criticism and concerns from the United Nations refugee agency, as reported by CBS News. 

The general consensus among critics is that the policy would allow the U.S. to place highly vulnerable individuals in harm’s way by sending them to countries where they may face life threatening dangers.

Additionally, there is also much concern surrounding the country of Guatemala itself, which, though growing economically, is still dealing with high crime rates, poverty, political instability and drug trafficking. Asylum-seekers come to the U.S. to find a safe place to escape persecution, but this new agreement could send them to a country facing some of the same issues as the countries they fled from.

MCPS students shared similar opinions on the agreement, mostly against the controversial decision.

“To me personally, this decision was disgusting,” Rockville senior Kathleen McPhillips said. “Pushing others away into another new unknown territory to get rid of the responsibility of helping those in need is horrible.”

“The US needs to do better and actually care about people,” Sherwood senior Ally Coley said. “Terrible that they make present and instant decisions and rarely think on the effects.”

Other students were not as informed on this current topic and unable to take a clear stance on the controversial move. 

“I am not entirely aware as to what is going on, so I cannot give thorough answers as to what my beliefs and opinions are,” Rockville senior Lucy Fields said.

Article by Alexandra Amaya of Rockville High School

Graphic by Angelina Guhl of Richard Montgomery High School