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Trump Hints at Guatemala Migrant Deal, Cuts Aid to Central America Over
Migrants

Aline Barros

   WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Monday that Guatemala
   was "getting ready to sign" an agreement that would force migrants who
   flee persecution in El Salvador and Honduras to request asylum in
   Guatemala instead of Mexico or the United States.

   A U.S. State Department delegation traveled to Guatemala last week to
   seek approval for the "safe third country" protocol, which if signed
   would be the first such agreement between the United States and a Latin
   American country.

   There has been no public indication from Guatemala that the deal was
   close to completion.

   Trump's comment came in a late-night series of tweets in which he
   praised Mexico for "using their strong immigration laws" and helping to
   stop people before they make the journey all the way up to the U.S.
   southern border, something Trump has long demanded as he seeks to cut
   the number of migrant arrivals.

   He also said that within the United States, the Immigration and Customs
   Enforcement agency would begin next week removing those who had
   illegally entered the country.

   Earlier Monday, Trump's administration announced plans to slash
   hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and
   Honduras.

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