**Trump Administration Remains Silent on Mass Deportation Plans, Latin American Leaders Concerned**

Mexican and Central American officials seek clarity as they await the inauguration, fearing rapid policy changes.

As the inauguration of Donald Trump approaches, regional leaders from Latin America are expressing significant concern over the lack of formal communication with the president-elect's administration regarding his ambitious plans for mass deportations. Trump has indicated that he intends to undertake one of the largest deportation operations in U.S. history, yet Mexican officials and other leaders from countries such as Guatemala and Honduras report that they have been unable to secure meetings with the incoming administration.

Officials in Mexico revealed that their requests for a formal dialogue have been rebuffed, with the Trump team indicating that comprehensive discussions will not commence until after the inauguration day. Sources from Guatemala and Honduras suggest that they have received similar responses, leaving them with little information about the future U.S. migration policy and resulting in a level of unease in the region.

Experts like Eric L. Olson from the Wilson Center's Latin American program note that this lack of early communication is atypical. Typically, informal discussions would be expected at this point to establish a working relationship. Analysts speculate that the incoming administration may prefer to delay these discussions in order to approach the issue from a position of strength, potentially mobilizing executive orders to solidify changes swiftly after taking office.

This strategy could leave Latin American governments struggling to respond to rapid developments, highlighting the challenges that await as the U.S. prepares for a significant shift in immigration policy.