Guatemalans: Arrested under Biden, deported under Trump

Guatemalans: Arrested under Biden, deported under Trump

The flight landed safely mid-morning, with the sun occasionally breaking through the clouds over Guatemala City. But instead of taxiing to the international arrivals area, the plane headed for the military part of the airport while fighter jets buzzed overhead on training exercises.

Emotional return to Guatemala

As the plane's doors swung open, dozens of men and women were ushered onto the tarmac, where they were met by an emotional Guatemalan Vice President Karin Herrera and other officials. They led the returnees to a reception center for returnees. "Good morning! How are you, paisanos (compatriots)?" someone shouted to the group.

This was a chartered deportation flight from the United States. These measures have gained attention since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who recently vowed to deport millions of undocumented migrants. Departing from Alexandria, Louisiana, just before dawn, there was no sense of shame or hostility as the migrants re-entered Guatemalan soil - many donning open-toe sneakers whose laces had been removed by U.S. authorities for security reasons and were never returned.

Benevolent welcome for returnees

The travelers - all adults - were greeted with cookies, coffee and efficiently processed paperwork at the migrant reception center. Vice President Herrera told CNN that repatriation flights are an ongoing process and there has been no increase since Trump took office. The only difference, according to Herrera, was the use of military aircraft like the one that landed later Monday.

She declined to comment on tensions between Colombia and the United States over the use of military aircraft, stressing that her focus was on her citizens. “We are committed to their integrity and their fundamental rights,” she added.

Fates of the returnees

Some of the returning Guatemalans had lived and worked in the United States for years. Some spoke English fluently. But all of them had entered the country without permission or documents and were therefore subject to deportation. The migrants left the US as criminals and reported being shackled on board until they left US airspace. Regardless of the circumstances, however, they received a warm welcome, as if they had been sorely missed. Some remained in handcuffs and were escorted by police as they faced criminal consequences in their home country.

A new life in Guatemala?

The majority of returnees sat with snacks while their names were called and temporary identification papers were handed out. They were no longer “undocumented”. Authorities emphasized that they had skills and talents that could help them build a new life in Guatemala that would also benefit the country.

The returning migrants applauded Herrera after her brief speech in the arrivals hall, but each had their own opinion about whether they would heed the call to stay.

The dangers in the USA

Sara Tot-Botoz had lived in Alabama for ten years, working in the construction industry and caring for her two now-grown children and grandchildren. She reported that about seven months ago she was driving away from a Walmart with one of her grandchildren when police stopped her and cited her for not having a child seat. After her immigration status was discovered, she spent two months in prison in Alabama and then five months in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Louisiana.

When she returned to Guatemala, her first thought was to slip out of her gray sweatpants into her indigenous clothing and eat something good. Tot-Botoz, 43 years old, was waiting for her things. Only a few migrants had suitcases; most were waiting for large plastic bags with their belongings from the USA.

Family ties and dreams

She eventually met a 25-year-old daughter who she hadn't seen since she was 15. The two women hugged each other for a long time and cried. They hadn't had any contact since Tot-Botoz's imprisonment, and although there was a lot to talk about, at first they just wanted to hold each other.

“It feels dangerous in the United States now,” Tot-Botoz said, explaining that undocumented migrants could be picked up anywhere. At the moment she wants to go back to her indigenous community, about a five-hour drive away, and never leave again.

An unbroken dream of American life

Fidel Ambrocio, on the other hand, still sees his future in the USA. He reported living there for a total of 19 years, first arriving as a teenager and leaving temporarily in 2018 before returning north. He thought about his wife, his four-year-old daughter and his newborn son, who was born shortly before he was arrested. The 35-year-old, who worked in construction in Montgomery, Alabama, seemed almost stunned to be back in Guatemala.

He was also angry and didn't understand why he was being deported, while most of Trump and his team's rhetoric focused on deporting violent offenders. “We are not criminals,” he assured, emphasizing that he did not consider his offense a serious crime.

Ambrocio plans to return to the United States legally. He knows that the law requires him to wait 10 years to apply for a visa, but he also plans to try in two or four years, even if that means traveling illegally and facing the consequences that come with it. “If I can never return, I will try to bring my wife and children here,” he admitted. “It will be very challenging.”

This story is also supported by CNN's Michael Rios.