Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


US, Guatemala Close to Deal to Block Central American Asylum-Seekers

Ramon Taylor

   VOA's Masood Farivar and Eugenia Sagastume contributed to this report.

   The Trump administration hopes within days to conclude a deal with
   Guatemala that would block Central Americans from seeking asylum in the
   U.S.

   VOA has obtained an unsigned copy of a seven-page draft White House
   agreement which would establish a "safe third country" protocol between
   the U.S. and Guatemala. The draft is set to be presented to the
   government in Guatemala City this week.

   Under the terms of the agreement, migrants fleeing persecution in El
   Salvador and Honduras would be required to seek asylum in Guatemala, a
   gateway to Mexico and the United States. With few exceptions, those who
   continue north to the U.S. without testing their chances in Guatemala
   would be sent back to Guatemala by U.S. immigration authorities.

.