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Unauthorized CBP operation in Guatemala relocates Honduran migrants to the Guatemala-Honduras border

  1. Original Date Announced

    October 13, 2020

    An investigation by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee minority staff revealed that DHS misused State Department funding to carry out an unauthorized operation in Guatemala in January 2020. U.S. border agents working in Guatemala rented unmarked vans to detain an unknown number of Honduran migrants intending to make their way to the U.S. border and return them to the border with Honduras. [ID #1088].

    SFRC Democratic Staff Report: DHS Run Amok
  2. Effective Date

    October 13, 2020

Current Status

Not in effect

Original Trump Policy Status

Status: Final/Actual
Trump Administration Action: Change in Practice
Agencies Affected: DOS DHS CBP

Commentary

  • U.S. Agents Returned Migrants to Honduras in Unauthorized Operation, Senate Report Says

    The agents were stationed in Guatemala, along with other countries across Latin America, to help train local police in counter narcotics and other efforts. They are strictly prohibited by the State Department, which provides their funding and oversees their efforts, from conducting direct enforcement operations in countries abroad.

    Go to article on wsj.com
  • Civil Society Organizations Denounce DHS Border Externalization in Guatemala, Call for Immediate Investigation

    The undersigned civil society organizations denounce the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) border externalization operations in Guatemala as documented by a new Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Democratic Staff report, DHS Run Amok? A Reckless Overseas Operation, Violations and Lies. We call for an immediate, comprehensive investigation into this operation by the State Department and DHS inspectors general.

    Go to article on reliefweb.int

Documents

Trump-Era Policy Documents

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