The United States is deporting illegal immigrants infected with COVID-19 to Guatemala, the country’s president said in a televised address to his country on Friday.
Alejandro Giammattei said random checks of deported Guatemalans returning from the United States had tested positive for the virus, citing one plane where random checks found 12 such individuals, Reuters reported.
Guatemalan Health Minister Hugo Monroy said earlier this week 75% of passengers on another deportation flight from the US had tested positive for the coronavirus. Despite the pandemic, President Trump has continued to put pressure on governments in Central America to continue accepting deported illegal immigrants.
The coronavirus has also hit Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents too with at least 30 ICE staff also testing positive.
Earlier this week the United States said it would send a Centers for Disease Control team to investigate the COVID-19 situation with migrants who remain under quarantine at a local hospital.