The United States Has Been Sending Migrants with COVID-19 Back to Guatemala
By: Marcus Day
Photo by Javier González
New York — On one flight in March, 75% of the passengers tested positive for the coronavirus. They were all being deported back to their home country of Guatemala.
Since January of this year, America has deported approximately 12,000 Guatemalans, including more than 1,200 children. After the first three coronavirus cases in migrants were confirmed, Guatemala requested that the United States pause their deportation program. The United States cooperated.
According to Sonia Pérez of the Associated Press, the Guatemalan government asked the Americans to refrain from sending more than 25 migrants per flight when the deportations continue. Additionally, they requested each migrant be tested before departure.
One week after the pause, the USA began deporting migrants once again. Despite Guatemala’s appeal, two flights with over 75 migrants left the United States. This move and its consequences led to condemnation by human rights groups, journalists, and onlooking nations.
Before this week, the Guatemalan government had only acknowledged that three deportees had been infected. The recent number of 75% on one flight was reported by Hugo Montroy, the country’s health minister, contradicting the government’s previous claim.
“We must not stigmatize, but I have to speak clearly. The arrival of deportees who have tested positive has really increased the number of cases,” says Minister Monroy.
Guatemala currently has 196 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. However, the country is severely limited in its testing. As of April 16th, they test 402 people for every one million in their population, a paltry number in comparison to Spain or the United States where tests per million hover in the tens of thousands. The case count may be far more than it is presently reported.
A man and his dog in Antigua, Guatemala. Photo by Marco Antonio Reyes
Although the death count in Guatemala is low, the consequences of the virus will be potentially longer lasting than many of the hardest-hit countries. As the virus continues to spread, all in-person classes throughout the country have been suspended for at least three weeks.
However, unlike most developed nations, holding virtual classes in Guatemala is not a viable option. Four-fifths of households do not have internet access or adequate technology for children to take classes online. Approximately 3 million children in the public education system will no longer receive any instruction.
“The only option for at-home learning in {her} community was to pass out the school’s short supply of textbooks, leaving instructions for parents on readings and exercises that children can do from home,” writes Ricardo Marroquín in El Faro, a San Salvadorian digital newspaper.
The closing of businesses and the stunt of educational attainment will have an enormous impact on the already poor country. Guatemala has the largest population in Central America, but a typical Guatemalan’s annual income is $8,200, half the region’s average. Over half of the population is below the national poverty line, and 23% live in absolute poverty.
Income inequality in the nation is high as well, leaving a disproportionate percentage of the population at risk. The richest 20% of Guatemalans account for more than 51% of the country’s consumption.
Relations between the US and Guatemala have been considerably strained after the deportation spat. Following the arrival of the plane in March, Health Minister Monroy called the US “the Wuhan of the Americas,” further alienating the two countries.