The US Safe Third Country Agreement with Honduras: An Overview

The US Safe Third Country Agreement with Honduras is a bilateral agreement between the United States and Honduras. The agreement, which was signed in September 2019, requires asylum seekers who pass through Honduras to seek asylum in that country, rather than continuing on to the United States.

The agreement is based on the principle of “first country of asylum,” which means that asylum seekers should seek protection in the first safe country they enter, rather than continuing on to other countries. The idea behind this principle is to prevent “asylum shopping,” where individuals seek asylum in multiple countries in order to find the one with the most favorable laws or conditions.

Under the agreement, individuals who pass through Honduras on their way to the United States will be returned to Honduras to seek asylum there. The agreement applies to both Hondurans and non-Hondurans who pass through Honduras.

The US government has argued that the agreement will reduce the number of asylum seekers arriving at the US border and reduce the strain on the US asylum system. Critics, however, have argued that the agreement violates international law and puts asylum seekers at risk by forcing them to seek protection in a country with a high level of violence and insecurity.

Honduras has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, and its government has been accused of widespread corruption and human rights abuses. Critics of the agreement argue that returning asylum seekers to Honduras puts them at risk of violence, persecution, and other human rights violations.

The US Safe Third Country Agreement with Honduras has faced legal challenges in both the United States and Honduras. In January 2020, a US federal judge blocked the implementation of the agreement, ruling that it violated US immigration law and was “arbitrary and capricious.” The ruling was later overturned by a US appeals court, and the agreement is currently in effect.

In Honduras, the agreement has faced legal challenges from human rights organizations and opposition politicians, who argue that the government did not follow the proper procedure for signing the agreement and that it violates the country`s constitution and international obligations.

Overall, the US Safe Third Country Agreement with Honduras is a controversial and complex issue that raises important questions about the rights and protection of asylum seekers. As the legal challenges and debates continue, it remains to be seen what the long-term impact of the agreement will be on the lives of individuals seeking asylum and on the US immigration system as a whole.