GUATEMALA ON CHANGES TO DEPORTATION PROCEDURES

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 002273 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2015 TAGS: PREL SMIG CVIS SNAR KCRM EAID PREF PHUM GT SUBJECT: GUATEMALA ON CHANGES TO DEPORTATION PROCEDURES REF: STATE 176485 Classified By: Ambassador James M. Derham for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Guatemalan FM Briz reacted favorably to reftel demarche delivered September 27 by the Ambassador, saying the GOG would seek to cooperate with USG efforts to reduce to three days the turnaround time to repatriate illegal Guatemalan immigrants apprehended at the border. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to Guatemalan FM Briz who had just returned from Nicaragua September 27. Briz appeared unaware of both WHA DAS Fisk's September 19 meeting in Washington with Ambassador Castillo and the September 23 exchange Pol Counselor had with Ambassador Galvez at the MFA on this issue. ¶3. (C) Briz was surprised to hear that almost 100 Guatemalans per day are apprehended at the border. The Ambassador explained that, to make a strong case for immigration reform (including a Temporary Worker Program),the Administration needed to show progress in securing our borders. The Ambassador said we were therefore seeking GOG cooperation in order to accelerate the processing of apprehended Guatemalan illegal migrants for return to Guatemala -- in particular, to eliminate delays in obtaining Guatemalan travel documents. ¶5. (C) Once the Ambassador clarified for Briz that we were talking about turning back Guatemalans apprehended at the border, not deporting Guatemalans already living in the U.S., Briz was amenable to cooperate. He added that if more resources were required for Guatemalan consulates, he would seek to obtain them. Briz and the Ambassador agreed that the Department and DHS should follow up with Guatemalan Ambassador Castillo in Washington. Briz said he would contact Ambassador Castillo immediately. ¶6. (C) Comment: Briz's reaction is welcome but his ignorance of earlier contacts on the issue is disconcerting. We recommend that Washington agencies initiate discussions with the Guatemalan Embassy asap to determine what additional actions the GOG is willing to undertake. DERHAM