In brief
Honduran President Xiomara Castro has taken a firm stand against potential mass deportations, threatening the existence of U.S. military bases in her country if Donald J. Trump follows through with his plans.
In a televised address on January 3, 2025, President Xiomara Castro of Honduras issued a stern warning about the future of U.S. military presence in the Central American nation. She stated that if President-elect Donald J. Trump proceeds with mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, including many Hondurans, the U.S. military could face expulsion from its bases in Honduras. This announcement marks a significant backlash from regional leadership against Trump's immigration strategy.Castro's comments come on the heels of her collaboration with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, as both leaders plan to convene foreign ministers to discuss the looming deportation crisis. “Faced with a hostile attitude of mass expulsion of our brothers, we would have to consider a change in our policies of cooperation with the United States, especially in the military arena,” Castro stated.She emphasized that the U.S. has long profited from maintaining military bases in Honduras without making contributions. “Without paying a cent for decades,” she remarked, “these bases would lose all reason to exist here.” Foreign Minister Enrique Reina supported Castro's position, noting that she has the authority to unilaterally withdraw from agreements allowing U.S. military installations, including the Soto Cano air base, which hosts America’s primary military operations in Central America.The tension signals a potential shift in U.S.-Central America relations, as regional leaders wrestle with the implications of harsh immigration policies and their impact on citizens back home.
