Guatemala Will Become a 'Safe Third Country' And Take U.S. Deportees From Other Nations

Guatemala announced on Wednesday it will become a "safe third country" and take in U.S. deportees from other nations after reaching an agreement with the Trump administration. Deportees will then be returned to their home countries at the U.S.'s expense.

The announcement comes after Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo de Leon met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has spent the past days visiting Latin American countries.

There had already been reports about Guatemala being willing to take in deportees from third countries before the announcement, with a local official telling Reuters in December that the country wants to "be part of the solution."

Rubio also reached an agreement with El Salvador to send deportees from third countries, with Bukele also offering to hold convicted criminals from both the U.S. and other countries for a fee. Rubio and Trump are reportedly considering the proposal even though it is not clear whether it is legal.

The offer took place during Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to the country, part of his first overseas trip in the post. He described the offer as the "most unprecedented and extraordinary migratory agreement anywhere in the world."

"You can think about it: any unlawful immigrant, illegal immigrant in the United States who's a dangerous criminal – MS-13, Tren de Aragua, whatever it may be – he has offered his jails so we can send them here and he will put them in his jails. And he's also offered to do the same for dangerous criminals currently in custody and serving their sentences in the United States, even if they're U.S. citizens or legal residents. We are just profoundly grateful," Rubio added.

Should the agreement be finalized, those deported would face some of the harshest conditions for inmates, who are confined to their cells for all but 30 minutes a day, can't receive visits and have to sleep in stainless steel cots without mattresses. The facility can hold up to 40,000 people, with some serving sentences of over 200 years. About 1,000 officers, 600 soldiers and 250 riot police guard the facility. All are watched 24 hours a day by CCTV cameras as well.

Known as CECOT, the largest prison in the country is on the edge of a jungle about 75 kilometers (47 miles) southeast of the capital San Salvador. Inmates only leave their cells if they have court hearings, which they attend via video link, while exercise is conducted in the hallways. They eat mainly pasta and beans, with the government expressly banning meat. They shower using water from a large basin and collect it from another barrel to drink, all inside their cells.