It is estimated that 67% of those that emigrated arrived in the U.S. after 2000. After 2010, there was an exodus coming mainly from rural communities, leading to a significant Guatemalan presence in the country.
- In 2022, nearly 675,000 Guatemalans resided in the U.S. without regular status.
- As of 2024, there were 14,370 active DACA recipients of Guatemalan origin.
- As of 2024, 253,413 Guatemalans had final removal orders.
- In 2024, the U.S. forcibly removed 66,435 Guatemalans. Of these, CBP detained 61,039, while ICE apprehended 5,396, and 1,220 had pending criminal charges.
Some characteristics of the Guatemalan population in the U.S.
In 2021, 56% of Guatemalans in the U.S. over the age of 25 had not completed high school, limiting their employment opportunities upon their return to Guatemala. Guatemalans also had a higher poverty rate (22%) compared to U.S. citizens and most migrants. The median age of Guatemalans was 37 and 73% were economically active.
Socioeconomic Conditions in Guatemala
- In 2023, 56.0% of Guatemalans lived in poverty and 16.2% in extreme poverty. In the U.S., the poverty rate was 13.0%, and the extreme poverty rate was 4.0%.
- Poverty is more widespread in rural communities (66.3%) than in urban areas (46.6%), in a country where 47% of the population lives in rural areas.
- In 2023, the average monthly income per individual was $2,409 GTQ (~$300 USD). In 2024, the average weekly income for full-time workers in the U.S. was $1,192 USD.
- The Gini coefficient, which measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (absolute equality) to 1 (absolute inequality), was 0.50 in 2023.
- Guatemala has the second-lowest public expenditure on education in Latin America. In 2023, just 35.1% of all people aged 20-24 had completed a secondary education, falling last among Latin American countries.
- In 2023, 1.7% of the economically active population was unemployed, and 11.9% was underemployed. A large portion of the working population (70.3%) is employed in the informal sector.
- In 2023, 26.1% of the working population worked in agriculture.
- Remittances reached $21.5 billion USD in 2024, representing 19.5% of Guatemala’s GDP. Remittances help improve access to food, healthcare, housing, and education, and become startup capital for businesses, disincentivizing migration.
Security Concerns
- In 2024, the homicide rate was 16.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, continuing a downward trend since 2008, when it was 48.0 per 100,000.
- Since 2019, extortions have risen, reaching 25,151 in 2024.
- A multitude of criminal groups have been found to operate in the country, including groups composed of former and active members of the country’s security forces, street gangs, and drug trafficking organizations.
- In 2023, 48.8% of women claimed to have suffered some kind of gender violence at least once in their lifetime; 34.5% had suffered some kind of sexual violence, and 18.1% had suffered some kind of physical violence.
- In 2024, 579 women were killed; 180 of these homicides were considered femicides.
Threats from Extreme Weather Events
- Guatemala ranks ninth in the world for risk level to climate change effects.
- Guatemala’s geographic location makes it susceptible to unpredictable rain patterns, leading to severe droughts or floods, resulting in failed harvests and food insecurity.
- Years after Hurricane Eta and Iota, impacted communities continue to struggle to recover. Together, they:
Political Context
- On January 2024, Bernardo Arévalo was sworn in as President, overcoming attempts to undermine the electoral process and prevent him from taking office. His presidency ends in January 2028.
- Attorney General Consuelo Porras and her Public Prosecutor’s office continue to attempt to undermine Arévalo’s government. The Public Prosecutor’s office has initiated several investigations into Arévalo and his party, attempted to strip him of his immunity, and obstructed, stalled, and dismissed many corruption cases.
- Journalists covering corruption are often persecuted, as exemplified by José Ruben Zamora, founder of the El Periódico newspaper.
- In 2019, the government closed the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG). CICIG helped the country investigate and prosecute serious crimes and prevent collusion between criminal groups and state actors.
- Guatemala ranks 146th among 180 countries in their perceived level of corruption.
- In 2024, Guatemala was classified as a “Partly Free” Democracy.
Reintegration
- The Guatemalan government announced its “Return Home” plan to assist deported nationals. It includes three key components:
- Immediate humanitarian attention;
- Access to government services and opportunities; and
- Community dialogue to promote participation in development plans.
- The plan faces several challenges, including the lack of resources to ensure its implementation, hurdles in inter-agency coordination, and the creation of real opportunities for employment, education, and housing.
