President Xiomara Castro of Honduras Threatens to Deport American Troops Due to Trump’s Plans for Mass Deportations

Xiomara Castro, the president of Honduras, is prepared to confront Donald Trump over his intentions for mass deportations.

Castro warned the president-elect earlier this week that if his plans for mass expulsion go forward, U.S. forces will be barred from Honduras.

In a televised speech, Castro stated, “We would have to consider a change of our cooperation policies with the United States, especially in the military realm, given a hostile attitude of mass expulsion of our brothers.”

U.S. military have been fighting drug trafficking at the Soto Cano air base in Comayagua for decades. Castro implied that the termination of this military alliance would be compelled by a Republican drive to expel Latino immigration. Trump has maintained that his measures will reduce illegal immigration, and he has long promised major deportations.

The stances of both leaders have drawn criticism. Trump has come under fire for his divisive policies, which include detaining children and contesting birthright citizenship. Castro’s political rivals cautioned that Honduras may become vulnerable if American forces were to withdraw.

According to analyst Olban Valladares, “she knows we don’t have the ability to threaten the United States…the damages it would cause Honduras would be terrible.”

Castro was defended by Foreign Minister Enrique Reina, who claimed that she had the right to drive out American military without the consent of Congress. The threat has gone unanswered by the Pentagon, which claims it is more campaign hyperbole than policy.