The Government of Guatemala expressed on Wednesday its rejection of a campaign of the United States Immigration and Customs Control (ICE) in which the image of a Guatemalan migrant arrested and subsequently deported was used.
The Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement “outrage” for the use of a national photography as part of an ICE campaign broadcast on social networks.
According to the press release, the campaign portrayed the Guatemalan under an approach that reinforces stigmas and prejudices against migrants.
“We reject any xenophobic and discriminatory manifestation towards migrants, remembering, above all, the prevalence of the dignity of people who, for various reasons, decide to migrate outside our territory,” said the Foreign Ministry.
You may be interested: White House says that migrant arrests continue ‘many factors’ and not racial profile
The controversy arises after the White House shared the image of a Labubu, Chinese dolls with worldwide popularity, inspired by the Guatemalan migrant Deported, while Donald Trump’s administration raises the use of social networks illustrations for its deportation campaign.
The official White House account in X and Instagram shared an image with the title ‘SportD Edition Labubu’ (deportened edition labubu), with the illustration of a Guatemalan handcuff and the legend ‘Sexual predator arrested by ICE’.
“Wtf. Maybe Labubus are demonic,” says the message about the Enlightenment.
The image corresponds to Cristian Soto Galeano, a citizen of Guatemala with dwarfism arrested on Monday by ICE in New Orleans, who was sentenced to two years in prison for “indecent behavior” with a minor, according to the White House in a later message.
The Guatemalan Foreign Ministry reiterated the willingness to work with the United States to promote a “safe, ordered and regular” migration. Also, he stressed the contributions that migrants make in the destination countries, both in the economic and cultural field.
Every year, according to calculations of humanitarian organizations, around 300,000 Guatemalans leave the Central American country with the intention of migrating to the United States.
With EFE Information
Inspy, discover and share. Follow us and find what you are looking for on our Instagram!
