Trump Team Stonewalling Latin American Nations on Mass Deportation Talks: 'This is Not How It's Supposed to Work'

The incoming Trump administration has declined requests from different Latin American governments seeking to engage in discussions about its plans to carry out mass deportations, leaving regional leaders scrambling to prepare for a potential upheaval.

Mexican officials, along with leaders from Guatemala and Honduras, said they have sought meetings with Trump's transition team but were told that detailed talks would only begin after the inauguration next week, The New York Times reported.

Trump is preparing to issue more than 100 executive orders starting on his first day in office, seeking to swiftly implement his agenda on border security, deportations, and other top priorities. During a private meeting with Republican senators on Capitol Hill Trump outlined his plans them, many of which are expected to be enacted immediately following his inauguration on Monday.

The administration's reticence comes as Trump promises the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, targeting millions of undocumented immigrants. Among the measures anticipated, Trump intends to reinstate Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that allowed for the rapid expulsion of migrants at the border due to public health concerns.

His team has also hinted at plans to reinstate policies like the "Remain in Mexico" program and to enlist federal and state resources for deportation efforts. Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the administration would use "every federal power" to carry out its objectives but did not address why meetings with Latin American officials have been delayed.

Guatemalan officials have reported limited communication with Trump's team so far, the outlet added. President Bernardo Arévalo De León ruled out signing a "safe third country" agreement—a deal where asylum seekers from other nations would be processed in Guatemala. "We are not a safe third country," Arévalo told The Associated Press. His foreign minister, Carlos Ramírez Martínez, added, "I don't doubt that pressure is coming."

Honduran leaders echoed similar concerns. Earlier this month, President Xiomara Castro warned she might shut down the U.S. base in the country if mass deportations of its nationals proceed.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, meanwhile, has expressed opposition to Trump's deportation agenda, though she has signaled some flexibility. "We are going to ask the United States to send non-Mexican migrants to their countries of origin," Sheinbaum told reporters. However, she acknowledged Mexico's readiness to accept some deportees under certain conditions.

Recently, Sheinbaum proposed a meeting of Latin American and Caribbean foreign ministers to address challenges expected to arise once Trump returns to the presidency. "We will always support those in need, as this aligns with our foreign policy and the humanistic principles we uphold," she said.

Amid the uncertainty, representatives from several Latin American countries met in Mexico City this week to coordinate a united response. A statement from Guatemala highlighted discussions on "opportunities and challenges of migration" but did not mention Trump.

Analysts suggest that Trump's team may be limiting early talks to avoid violating the Logan Act, which restricts incoming administrations from negotiating with foreign governments before taking office. Yet previous transitions have found ways to communicate policy priorities without breaching the law, according to the NYT.

Despite the silence, Trump's foreign policy intentions are well-publicized. He has threatened to impose tariffs on Mexico if it fails to curb migration and drug trafficking. Regional governments are also bracing for renewed U.S. pressure to sign agreements accepting asylum seekers from other nations, though leaders have signaled resistance.