Guatemala will conclude 2025 with around 55,000 nationals deported from the U.S. and Mexico, a 23% drop from the 76,000 deported in 2024, according to what Maria del Mar Mazariegos, spokesperson for the Guatemalan Migration Institute said on Tuesday (December 30), as the final deportation flights of the year landed. According to Mazariegos, from the nearly 55,000 returned nationals, approximately 48,000 were sent by the U.S., while the rest came from Mexico. Deportees disembarked to complete registration procedures and collect their personal belongings at the Returnee Reception Center in Guatemala City. One of the deportees, Marvin Guillermo Orozco Maldonado, recounted his detention in the U.S. "They detained me at a laundromat while I was washing clothes. The officers [...] asked if I had U.S. documents. I said no, and they told me, 'We're sorry, but you're under arrest." Since taking office on January 20, President Donald Trump has stepped up the number of migrants the U.S. deports to Latin America, including using military planes for repatriation flights.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: RETURNED MIGRANTS GETTING OFF PLANE TOWARD RETURNEE CENTER / SOUNDBITES FROM RESIDENTS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE STORY

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: REFILING TO CORRECT "MONDAY (DECEMBER 30)" TO "TUESDAY (DECEMBER 30)" IN FIRST PAR OF STORY.

SHOWS: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (DECEMBER 30, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF RETURNED MIGRANTS GETTING OFF PLANE TOWARD RETURNEE CENTER

2. VARIOUS OF RETURNED MIGRANTS LISTENING TO REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS INSIDE CENTER

3. RETURNED CITIZENS FILLING PAPERWORK

4. MIGRATION WORKER

5. RETURNED MIGRANTS RECEIVING THEIR PERSONAL BELONGINGS

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUATEMALAN CITIZEN, MARVIN GUILLERMO OROZCO MALDONADO, SAYING:

"They detained me at a laundromat while I was washing clothes. The officers arrived, they just asked me for my name, I gave them my name and they asked if I had U.S. documents, I said no, then they said 'we're sorry, but you're under arrest.' And I said 'Yes, that's fine, I didn't come to do anything wrong, I just came to work in this country.'"

7. VARIOUS OF OROZCO MALDONADO CHECKING HIS BELONGINGS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUATEMALAN CITIZEN, MARVIN GUILLERMO OROZCO MALDONADO, SAYING:

"You don't know who is going to come back. We've had to pray to God there to get us out, because we all want to come back, but unfortunately they don't get everyone out. So I'm grateful to the Lord because I believe God answered my prayer so they could get me out on this last trip of the year."

9. VARIOUS OF RETURNEE CENTER

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUATEMALAN MIGRATION INSTITUTE SPOKESPERSON, MARIA DEL MAR MAZARIEGOS, SAYING:

"During 2024 we closed with approximately 76,000 people (received). This year we expect to end with approximately 55,000 people, not more than this number. Currently, as of December 29, we have 54,898 Guatemalan returnees, which means we have a 23% reduction in Guatemalan returnees to date compared to the previous year."

11. VARIOUS OF CITIZENS LEAVING MIGRANT CENTER

12. FAMILIES WAITING OUTSIDE RETURNEE RECEPTION CENTER

13. FAMILY GREETING YOUNG RETURNED MIGRANT OUTSIDE CENTER