US Embassy Guatemala

The escape of terrorists from the Barrio 18 prison is completely unacceptable.

On September 23, the U.S. designated members of this heinous group as the terrorists they are and will hold accountable anyone who has provided, provides, or decides to provide material support to these fugitives or other gang members.

The Government of Guatemala must act immediately and decisively to recapture these terrorists, who pose a threat both to Guatemala and to the security of U.S. territory.

All those involved in these escapes must be fully held accountable.

There is no way to escape the scandal of the leak

Calls for the resignation or dismissal of the Minister of the Interior are growing. His continued presence will lead to even more difficult-to-avoid attrition.

Prensa Libre Editorial

Placing his office at the disposal of President Bernardo Arévalo was the first thing Minister of the Interior Francisco Jiménez should have done after the confirmation of the incredible, absurd, and intolerable escape of 20 Barrio 18 gang members from Fraijanes 2 prison. The aggravating factors remain unclear: the escape occurred during a still undetermined period of time, with a modus operandi that is still unclear, and with feared—but long suspected—prison complicity that has yet to be identified. The minister had the civil courage to come forward and address the biggest scandal in his ministry. He attempted to assuage the outrage by announcing an obvious recapture plan. But it’s not enough.

It’s not enough, especially after 21 months of publicized operations to regain prison control, of repeated announcements of prison searches and controls, of repeated incidents of the entry of prohibited items, including cell phones and internet terminals. This vicious cycle was already a cause for concern and needed to be broken in time. But it wasn’t. Furthermore, the search for fugitives is a reprocessing that consumes the state’s material and human resources that could easily be used to combat other gang members who are still at large, who continue to extort, sowing terror in neighborhoods and municipalities, and who will now hide their criminal leaders, practically freed by a corrupt system that should have been vigorously addressed from the first months of this administration.

A week ago, when many of the fugitives were already out of jail, the Interior Ministry introduced an anti-gang bill in response to the U.S.’s declaration of Barrio 18 as a terrorist group, a status it now shares with its rivals, the Salvatruchas. It was too late.

Yes, it was too late. But so was Congress, where yesterday, unofficial arguments in favor of “citizen security” were vociferously trotted out to endorse a similar initiative, submitted in 2020 and forgotten by the previous ruling party—the same party that held the majority and today claims to champion a hard line. But the ruling party and its alleged dissidents were also far behind in promoting functional criminal classifications, stricter prison conditions at all levels, and combating prison businesses run by gang members, who claim to have government “permits.” The same can be said of front businesses in neighborhoods and pirate taxis owned by gang members, who thus launder their filthy blood money. This is also what the reform to the Money Laundering Law, which these self-righteous deputies avoid discussing and approving, would serve.

This conflict of interests and double standards is seasoned with the timid criteria and agendas of other, electoralist gangs intent on starting the 2027 marathon. They drag along their own extortionate practices, herd tactics, their improper charges—such as the illicit increase approved secretly almost a year ago—and their demagogic jargon to disguise their unspeakable loyalties. Don’t think we don’t notice. Their previous actions and inactions are like grotesque tattoos.

Back in the executive branch, the presidential silence is another glaring error. Perhaps the result of a negligent communications team or a vain bet that the issue would be diffused. But it won’t be diffused. The implications are too lurid, and the risks of having 19 psychopaths hidden and plotting violent offensives are overwhelming. Calls for the resignation or dismissal of the Minister of the Interior are growing. His continued presence will lead to an even more difficult-to-avoid strain.

©2025 Editorial Board – DrRichSwier.com. All rights reserved.

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