Guatemala postpones Trump summit, says will not sign 'safe third country' deal

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Guatemala said on Sunday it would postpone President Jimmy Morales’ visit to Washington to discuss Guatemala’s potential designation as a ‘safe third country’ for asylum seekers, stressing that it has no plans to sign such an agreement.

In a statement, Guatemala said the planned meeting between Morales and U.S. President Donald Trump this week had been postponed until the Guatemalan Constitutional Court had ruled on legal challenges. Last week, five former senior officials appealed to the court to block any agreement with the United States that would declare Guatemala a ‘safe third country.’

Under such a deal, Guatemala would be obliged to offer asylum to migrants who entered its territory en route to the United States. Migrants from Honduras and El Salvador heading to the U.S.-Mexican border overland usually cross into Mexico via Guatemala.

-snip-

WORLD NEWS JULY 14, 2019 / 12:16 PM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO
Reporting by Sofia Menchu; writing by Julia Love; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-guatemala/guatemala-postpones-trump-summit-says-will-not-sign-safe-third-country-deal-idUSKCN1U90G8

[customerserviceguy]

1. Morales

is probably holding out for Trump's support for his dictatorship. He'll probably get it.

[LiberalFighter]

2. Why would any country need to sign such an agreement?

Guatemala doesn't need the USA's permission to do it. They can do it on their own if they want.

[bluevoter4life]

3. Just another steak he can throw at his base

The "master negotiator" struck a pointless deal with Guatemala. Attempts to divert attention from whatever scandal he's involved with, and it passes the illusion he did something meaningful to curb the flow of immigrants.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. Mr. "Art of the Deal" fucks up again

[keithbvadu2]

5. Donald can arrange a meeting in VN, to be humiliated again like he did with NK.

Donald can arrange a meeting in VN, to be humiliated again like he did with NK.