The US and Guatemala have signed a “safe third country” agreement that could require asylum-seekers traveling through the Central American country to first seek protection there, the White House said.

The details of the agreement were not immediately released, but under the designation thousands of asylum-seekers who travel through Guatemala, which shares a border with Mexico, from countries such as Honduras and El Salvador could potentially be required to apply for asylum there before being able to do so in the US.

The agreement comes after President Trump threatened Guatemala with tariffs after backing away from discussions on this designation.