Honduras Warns U.S. Troops Could Be Expelled If Trump’s Deportation Plan Moves Forward

Al Jazeera reported on Sunday that Honduras has threatened to expel U.S. troops in retaliation against President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to deport large numbers of Central American refugees and asylum seekers.

Trump’s proposed policy could affect hundreds of thousands of Hondurans, particularly in regions closely tied to major U.S. military installations.

The report states that Honduran President Xiomara Castro declared in her New Year’s address that she would reassess military cooperation with the United States if Trump’s mass deportation policy is enacted. Castro specifically mentioned the Soto Cano Air Base, asserting that such deportations would nullify the base’s purpose.

Castro voiced broader concerns about the continued U.S. military presence, underscoring Honduras’s national sovereignty.

Political analysts interpret Honduras’s threat as a negotiating tactic rather than an immediate demand for policy change. Al Jazeera reports that some view it as a forceful message to the Trump administration regarding Central American sovereignty.

Trump has vowed to accelerate the deportation of undocumented immigrants. He has yet to reveal specific plans, leaving Latin American governments scrambling to prepare.

Trump has also cautioned that he would impose a 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada if they fail to stem the flow of immigrants and the opioid fentanyl into the United States.