U.S. and Guatemala Sign Safe Country Asylum Agreement Despite Implementation Issues

On July 16, 2019, Guatemala and the United States signed an agreement that would designate Guatemala as a safe third country for individuals seeking asylum in the United States despite issues in Guatemala about its legality and ability of Guatemala to implement.[1] The White House still has not released the details of the agreement.  President Trump announced the agreement in an unscheduled appearance in the Oval Office with Enrique Degenhart, the Guatemalan minister of government and the acting homeland security secretary Kevin McAleenan.[2]