Asylum pact with U.S. faces challenge

GUATEMALA CITY — Human rights prosecutor Jordan Rodas asked the Constitutional Court on Monday to nullify a deal President Jimmy Morales’ government signed with Washington forcing Salvadorans and Hondurans to request asylum in Guatemala instead of the United States.

The appeal argues the agreement was signed under threats from President Trump, who’d warned of possible tariffs or other consequences for Guatemala if it failed to endorse the approach.

“We presented an appeal for what was signed to be declared null and not take effect,” Rodas said.

Rodas also asked for the removal and investigation of Foreign Minister Enrique Degenhart, who signed the document in Washington last week, arguing that he did not have the authority to do so.

Prior to the signing, the Constitutional Court had granted three injunctions ordering the government not to enter into a deal without approval from the country’s Congress — a ruling it ignored.

Presidential spokesman Alfredo Brito said Morales’ legal team was studying whether the agreement needs to be considered by Congress and added that the administration provided all required information to the court.

The agreement with Washington provides that Salvadorans and Hondurans who pass through Guatemala and arrive at the U.S. border would not be allowed to make asylum claims there unless they did so in Guatemala first.

The measure could potentially ease the crush of mostly Central Americans arriving at the U.S. border.