The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced that she sent a diplomatic note to the Government of the United States requesting that no Mexican be deported to the military base in Guantánamo, in response to the announcement made by President Donald Trump upon taking office. Sheinbaum stated that if Mexico accepts the repatriated individuals, they would return to the country.
The Mexican leader made these statements following the controversy generated last Sunday, when a group of more than 200 Venezuelans, supposed members of the Tren de Aragua gang, arrived in El Salvador and were detained without trial at the Terrorism Confinement Center. In light of this, Sheinbaum assured that any Mexican deported from the United States would be repatriated to Mexico.
In another context, Trump decided to expand the detention center for migrants in Guantánamo, increasing its capacity to 30,000 people. The U.S. government had mentioned that this center was intended for migrants with criminal records or related to gangs like the Tren de Aragua. However, the transfer of migrants to the base began in February in a secret operation, without revealing the identities or the crimes attributed to the majority of the detainees.
Since Trump took office, the United States has deported 24,413 people to Mexico, of which 19,846 are Mexican and 4,567 are foreigners, according to data from the Mexican government. Deported Mexicans are given the 'Tarjeta Bienestar Paisano' and support to find work, while foreigners are provided assistance to regularize their situation or return to their country.
