URC’s work to tie successful reintegration of deportees from the United States with economic development has been honored by The International Stability Operations Association (ISOA) with the Innovation Award, a part of the organization’s Global Impact Awards.
“Our program in Guatemala is designing a first-of-its-kind case management system to track returnees, identify their needs and skills, and link them to jobs,” said Earl Gast, URC CEO and president. “URC’s model provides tailored support to returnees as they return to Guatemala, reintegrate into their communities and families, and enter the job market.”
According to the Guatemalan Migration Institute, more than 49,000 Guatemalans have returned home due to deportation in the first 11 months of this year; nearly 30,000 were returned in 2024. These two numbers helped frame a new program that is helping the Guatemala government achieve reintegration and prevent illegal migration recidivism in a way that respects the basic human needs of returnees and their ability to directly contribute to the well-being of their families, communities, and the economic growth of their country.
The Support for the Reception and Reintegration of Returnees in Urban Areas (SRR) program realistically assesses and addresses key drivers of illegal migration to the United States, a critical component of US national security. It is an innovative, transformative, and forward-looking program that addresses primary factors directly contributing to repeat illegal migration, creating a case management approach combining government and private partnerships, aiding economic development, and developing programs for safe, respectful reintegration of Guatemala returnees.
SRR’s approach starts the moment returnees land in their home country. The tech-based case management approach is tailored to each returnee’s needs, addressing job skills and training, health and mental health needs, housing and community reintegration. This comprehensive program is combined with specific actions to promote economic growth in Guatemala by eliminating barriers to trade opportunities with the U.S., creating as many as 2,000 jobs annually, and addressing much needed infrastructure improvements.
SRR is managed in Guatemala by IBI, a URC Company.
“The opportunities that IBI has provided in the region in 2025 represent a path of light and hope for our fellow citizens who have returned to their homeland,” said Maria del Rosario Lopez Villatoro, Department Director, Huehuetenango, Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.
This reintegration program is backed by concrete employer commitments including PepsiCo, Bantrab, McDonald’s, Fogel, and the American Chamber of Commerce Guatemala.
Additional benefits of the project include promoting multi-sectoral collaboration by supporting Guatemala’s Return Home program, a job referral program, and removing legislative and bureaucratic barriers to investment and growth – driving economic growth, employment and expanded trade and investment with the U.S.
ISOA announced award recipients on Dec. 11 and will formally acknowledge winners at its Global Summit in January.
