The United States has deported nearly 2,300 Mexican nationals to Guatemala this year despite objections from Mexico, as the Trump administration expands its use of third-country deportations.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo said on Wednesday that about 2,284 Mexicans had arrived on flights carrying Guatemalan deportees.

“They are arriving on planes carrying Guatemalan returnees,” Arevalo said at a news conference.

Guatemala then works with Mexican authorities to return the deportees to Mexico within 24 hours, he said.

Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticised the practice on Thursday, saying: “The Mexican government has expressed its opposition to this practice to US authorities and has reiterated that every Mexican citizen has the right to enter the country.”

Mexico has consistently accepted its citizens deported directly from the US, raising questions over why they are instead being sent through Guatemala.

Reports indicate some Mexican nationals have also been deported to Honduras.

The US Department of Homeland Security said it was “utilising all lawful options to carry out the largest deportation operation in history, just as President Trump promised”.

Mexico’s National Migration Institute told The Associated Press that US authorities had described the policy as a deterrent aimed at preventing deportees from attempting to cross the border again.