THE Trump administration signed an agreement with Guatemala on Friday that will restrict asylum applications to the US from Central America.

 

 

The so-called “safe third country” agreement would require migrants, including Salvadorans and Hondurans, who cross into Guatemala on their way to the US to apply for protections in Guatemala instead of at the US border. It could potentially ease the crush of migrants overwhelming the US Immigration system, although many questions remain about how the agreement will be executed. President Donald Trump heralded the concession as a win as he struggles to live up to his campaign promises on immigration.

 

 

“This is a very big day,” he said. “We have long been working with Guatemala and now we can do it the right way.” He claimed, “This landmark agreement will put the coyotes and smugglers out of business.” The announcement comes after a court in California blocked Trump’s most restrictive asylum effort to date, one that would effectively end protections at the southern border.