Trump’s continuing conflation of MS13 activity and immigration to the United States is painting an inaccurate picture of the gang, leading to ineffective and damaging policies.
The head of an international anti-corruption body in Honduras has resigned in protest of what he described as insufficient support from the mission’s parent institution.
Trump has threatened to slash foreign aid, but Congress appears ready to reject his plans when it comes to Latin America security assistance.
El Salvador’s first ever conviction of a mayor for ties to gangs shows that the country’s judicial system has the capacity to take down corrupted officials, but the widespread influence of gangs in politics continues to pose significant challenges.
Several top ministers in Guatemala’s government have resigned and thousands of citizens have flooded the streets to protest recent elite efforts to institutionalize corruption, plunging the country deeper into turmoil and potentially signaling how a wave of domestic pressure could shape the outcome.
Guatemala’s congress is backtracking on an attempt to weaken anti-corruption efforts following massive public outcry and a rapid response by the country’s highest court, indicating that while international pressure has not seemed to deter corrupt political elites from attempting to shield themselves, widespread domestic outrage might.
Authorities in Central America have arrested hundreds of suspected gang members in recent days during coinciding operations, but their willingness to mount such large-scale efforts against gangs has not been matched by an equivalent committment to tackle recent allegations of serious official corruption.
This news brief was originally published at InSight Crime. US politicians are ramping up pressure on Central American countries toContinue Reading
Guatemala’s highest court has ruled that President Jimmy Morales cannot expel the head of the country’s internationally-backed anti-corruption body, haltingContinue Reading
