On July 6, 2026, Manuel Orozco, director of the Migration, Remittances, and Development Program, spoke with Diario La Hora about how Guatemalan migrants are adapting the way they send remittances amid increased banking scrutiny and mass deportations in the United States.
COMMENTS FROM OROZCO:
“Digital remittance platforms are registering double-digit growth, driven by users who prioritize fast, lower-cost and more flexible transfers. This transformation occurs while uncertainty increases about access to bank accounts and the use of the ITIN, a key document for thousands of migrant workers.”
“Migrants mostly save, and would use what they set aside for emergencies to send remittances. But I think it would be until 2027 that they would resort to doing so if conditions worsen.”
“Remittances in Central America are growing, but could soon begin to see a decline. The issue is that in 2025 there was very strong growth. This year a little more is being sent but not of the same magnitude–that is, the one who receives may have to adjust this year, if they did not save last year.”
“The challenge now is deportation in the midst of non-migration. By 2027 I would think that there will be another slowdown, which will start in the middle of 2026. The impact on local economies will begin to be felt in the absence of policies and strategies.”
