Central America has become ‘dumping ground’ for Trump’s deportation efforts
The Trump administration has been making deals across Latin America to assist in the U.S. effort to deport migrants who have entered the country illegally. Migrants are being shipped to and held in several Central American countries as part of this initiative.
According to Lora Ries, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, President Trump is no longer allowing the U.S. to be treated like a doormat. The administration has reportedly struck deals with countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and Venezuela to move migrants away from the southern border.
This move has caused Central America to become a “dumping ground” for migrants from regions such as the Middle East and Asia. Countries like Panama and Costa Rica have taken in migrants who have been deported from the U.S. In some cases, President Trump has been accused of strong-arming these nations to comply with his demands, using tactics such as threats to take back the Panama Canal or impose tariffs.
Panama was the first country to agree to a deal with Trump in February, and has since taken in hundreds of migrants from countries like Afghanistan, Iran, China, and Pakistan. While some migrants have agreed to be returned to their home countries, others have refused, putting them in a legal limbo.
Critics have raised concerns about the legality of the deportation programs and the conditions migrants face in these countries. However, Ries argues that many of these nations allowed migrants to flow through their borders during former President Joe Biden’s term, viewing the U.S. as a dumping ground for migrants.
Ries believes that Trump’s deportation deals are an example of using American leverage, something that was not seen under Biden’s leadership. She argues that the U.S. has the right to choose who enters the country and under what terms they must leave.
The benefits of these deals, according to Ries, include serving as a deterrent for migrants thinking of heading north and for countries that have allowed them passage. She believes that these nations are capable of defending their own borders and should take measures to prevent mass migration in the first place.
Overall, the Trump administration’s efforts to deport migrants to Central American countries have sparked debate and controversy. While some see it as a necessary measure to protect U.S. borders, others are concerned about the treatment of migrants and the legality of the deportation programs.
