Can a State expel a person to a territory where they have never lived or have family ties?The practice of deporting citizens to third countries in the Central American region – such as the thousands of transfers reported to Guatemala – has unleashed a wave of criticism among jurists and UN special rapporteurs.
Violation of the principle of non-refoulement
International law explicitly prohibits sending people to places where their physical integrity or freedom is at risk. By transferring migrants to third countries without a rigorous evaluation of their asylum applications, they are placed in a state of extreme vulnerability, forcing them to undertake clandestine journeys again in even more precarious conditions.
Local capacities exceeded
Host governments and civil society shelters in Central America have warned that they lack sufficient infrastructure, financial resources and labor insertion programs to accommodate massive contingents that do not have these countries as their final destination.
