Guatemala Allows 161 Mexicans to Stay Temporarily After Crossing for Safety
Guatemala granted temporary humanitarian status to 161 Mexicans who fled their country seeking refuge from organized crime. The Guatemalan Immigration Institute allowed 39 families, including 69 children, from Frontera Comalapa to remain legally in Guatemala temporarily. These families stayed in rented homes, with relatives, or in temporary shelters in La Mesilla. Mexican Governor Eduardo Ramírez denied that Mexicans were displaced by crime, claiming organized crime in Guatemala wanted to discredit Mexico's public safety efforts. In July 2024, nearly 600 Mexicans crossed the border to escape violence.