Guatemala has agreed to significantly increase the number of deportees it accepts from the United States, including individuals originating from countries other than Guatemala. This development follows a similar agreement reached with El Salvador, broadening the scope of the Trump administration's "safe third country" strategy.

During a visit from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo announced the agreement, confirming Guatemala's willingness to receive deportees of various nationalities. The US will finance the return of these individuals to their countries of origin.

President Arevalo stated that the agreement will result in a 40% increase in deportation flights, accommodating both Guatemalan nationals and individuals from other countries. This new arrangement mirrors, albeit on a smaller scale, the agreement previously established with El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele.

The agreement with El Salvador notably includes the acceptance of US citizens and legal residents convicted of violent crimes, a provision described by Secretary Rubio as "unprecedented" and "extraordinary." President Bukele even proposed accepting convicted American criminals into El Salvador's mega-prison for a fee, suggesting a potential outsourcing of the US prison system.

While the deportation of US citizens is legally improbable, Bukele's offer underscores the extent of El Salvador's commitment to the agreement. The "safe third country" framework could provide a solution for handling convicted Venezuelan gang members in the US if Venezuela refuses to repatriate them. Bukele has also pledged to accept all Salvadoran MS-13 gang members residing illegally in the US, along with criminal illegal aliens from other countries, particularly those associated with Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang.

Although unlikely to be enacted, El Salvador's offer to house convicted US criminals highlights the unconventional nature of these agreements and their potential to reshape international migration policies.