The Trump administration said Wednesday it had a deal with a third Central American country that would effectively prevent asylum-seekers traveling through the region from entering the United States.

The agreement would pave the way to send asylum-seekers to Honduras, one of the world's most violent countries, like its neighbors. A similar pact was signed with El Salvador last week; a more comprehensive agreement was previously signed with Guatemala .

The Honduras agreement, to be signed this week, has not been released and many details remain unclear, including when it would take effect. A senior Homeland Security Department official described broad outlines on a conference call with reporters and spoke on condition of anonymity, according to briefing ground rules

The deal would complete a central component of Trump's strategy to deter asylum-seekers from entering the U.S. through Mexico . The Supreme Court this month cleared the way for the administration to deny asylum to anyone who traveled through another country to reach the border.




In a nod to the absence of a robust network to absorb refugees, Kevin McAleenan, the acting homeland security secretary, on Monday announced $47 million in aid for Guatemala to build its asylum system. It remains unclear what assistance El Salvador and Honduras will receive similar assistance.



In another effort to deter asylum-seekers, the Trump administration has made more than 40,000 people, largely Central Americans, wait in Mexico and cross the border for hearings in U.S. immigration court.

It is unclear what steps are needed for the Honduran government to fully embrace the arrangement, including any legislative or judicial hurdles.

Trump met Wednesday with Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. The meeting was not open to reporters.

Hernández has been named by U.S. prosecutors as a co-conspirator in his brother's drug-trafficking case and protesters have called for him to step down. Hernández has said the allegations come from drug traffickers seeking revenge against him, but U.S. prosecutors promise say they will present evidence showing that Hernández harnessed his brother's drug-trafficking connections to propel his own political fortunes. A trial is scheduled for October


Spagat reported from San Diego.