Honduras threatens to expel US military over Trump deportation threat
Honduran President Xiomara Castro issued President-elect Trump a stark warning earlier this week over his vow to pursue mass deportations when he returns to the White House, threatening to bar U.S. troops from the Latin American nation.
“Faced with a hostile attitude of mass expulsion of our brothers, we would have to consider a change of our cooperation policies with the United States, especially in the military realm,” Castro said Wednesday during a televised speech.
U.S. troops have been present at the Soto Cano air base in the town of Comayagua — located outside the capital city of Tegucigalpa — for at least four decades, according to The Associated Press. Joint Task Force Bravo has occupied the area in order to stem the transnational flow of narcotics and other contraband but has not formally purchased a space for its forces, the outlet reported.
Republicans' effort to remove Latino immigrants from the U.S. would force the amicable agreement to end, Castro said in her address. The president-elect has argued that his plan is focused on curbing illegal immigration and closing the border, which he consistently pledged to do during his time on the campaign trail.
Both leaders received criticism over their proposals.
Trump has been scrutinized over procedural policies that would violate birthright citizenship clauses in the Constitution and perceived efforts to detain children of legal status with their undocumented parents. Still, he has repeatedly promised that "On Day 1, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history."
Castro's political opponents argued that removing U.S. troops, considered one of its largest trading partners, would put the country in a critically vulnerable state.
Jorge Calix, floated as a potential challenger in the nation's upcoming election, argued that such a move would put Honduras in "grave danger," citing personal and ideological issues. Another analyst, who has contemplated his own run, denounced her threat as unrealistic.
“She knows we don’t have the ability to threaten the United States in any way, that the damages it would cause Honduras would be terrible,” Olban Valladares said, per the AP. He also noted that it would make migrants from the country more of a target for the incoming adminstration.
Honduras Foreign Minister Enrique Reina pushed back, claiming Castro has the power to dismiss troops without Congressional approval.
The Pentagon declined to comment, telling the news wire that the issue “pertains to campaign statements and not policy.”
The threat also comes after Trump announced he would place new tariffs on products imported from Mexico, Canada and China when he is inaugurated later this month.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.