Guatemala's 36-year civil war, which ended in 1996, caused thousands of political refugees to flee to neighbouring countries, the United States and Canada. The Commission for Historical Clarification (CEH) concludes that 200,000 people were killed or disappeared, and that from 1981 to 1983, as many as 1.5 million people were displaced internally or had to flee the country, including about 150,000 who sought refuge in Mexico. The Guatemalan Peace Accords in 1996 signaled an end to overt hostilities but not to bitter social tensions, political violence, stark inequality, and severe economic hardship, all of which fuel emigration pressures.

Due to its geographic location, Guatemala is most affected by irregular migration as Central Americans returning from Mexico pass through Guatemala; these flows are increasing. In 2000, Mexico returned 148,000 Central American nationals and in 2006 this number grew to 174,000. In the first five months of 2007 a total of 22,000 Central American nationals have returned from Mexico. Thus, the grand total of repatriated persons since 2000 amounts to 1,180,829 individuals. Of this total 553,275 are Guatemalans (47 per cent) and the other 53 per cent are Hondurans, Salvadorans and Nicaraguans.

The repatriation of Guatemalan citizens by air from the United States of America has also increased. In 2004 a total of 7,029 persons were repatriated by air, including 200 children. In 2006 the number increased to 18,305 and included 1,000 children. It is estimated that by the end of 2007 the number of persons repatriated by air will have increased to 25,000 and that this growing trend will continue in 2008. The cumulative total of repatriated Guatemalans in this period is 48,930 persons.

As Guatemala lacks adequate resources and is not equipped to address this complex and ever-growing trend, a regional policy is required where Central American countries, Mexico and the United States share responsibility.