U.S. State Dept. Sinking Trump’s ‘Safe Country’ Asylum Program, Says Guatemalan Official

A high-ranking Guatemalan government official told Breitbart News that the U.S. Department of State in that country is working with leftist organizations to allow President Donald Trump’s proposed “safe country” asylum agreement to die. President Trump is seeking agreements with Mexico and Central American countries to help slow the surge of migrants attempting to exploit loopholes in the U.S. asylum system.

A high-ranking Guatemalan government official spoke with Breitbart News under the condition of anonymity about the plans being negotiated between Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales and U.S. President Donald Trump to house so-called asylum seekers who have illegally crossed the U.S. border from Mexico. The proposed agreement would allow asylum seekers from any country to be sent to Guatemala for asylum. The proposal and a meeting scheduled for Monday between the two presidents has been postponed, Breitbart News reported.

“We hope the meeting will happen,” the Guatemalan official told Breitbart News in a phone interview, “but it won’t happen now.” A constitutional court in Guatemala placed an injunction against President Morales’ government from entering into the agreement, Sara Carter reported. “The court has acted against the constitution,” the Guatemalan official continued. He explained the Guatemalan courts are packed with leftist activists.

The official also blamed the U.S. State Department in Guatemala for “not doing anything to salvage the agreement.” He said State Department officials will frequently push to get agreements approved but have not done so in this case.

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