Guatemala: News & Updates

The US Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian Nichols, visited Guatemala to support a peaceful presidential transition but was denied a meeting by President Giammattei. Meanwhile, members of the US House Democracy Partnership urgently requested Secretary of State Antony Blinken to ensure a peaceful transition of power in Guatemala. Additionally, US House representatives, led by Congresswoman Norma Torres, called for strong sanctions, including financial ones, to protect democracy in Guatemala amid concerns of attacks on election workers. The State Department also added former and current Guatemalan officials, including Gendri Rocael Reyes Mazariegos and Alberto Pimentel Mata, to the corrupt actors list due to their involvement in significant corruption, making them ineligible for entry into the United States.

You can read this monthly newsletter at https://www.irtfcleveland.org/blog.

When we hear about the Border Patrol apprehending people along the southern border, we tend to imagine people from Mexico or Central America. But the national origins of migrants are much more varied, and the Border Patrol isn’t exactly “apprehending” as many people because most are turning themselves in at ports-of-entry.

In this month’s newsletter, we report that 100% of Haitians encountered by the Border Patrol affirmatively presented themselves at ports-of-entry, as did 88% of Cubans and 96% of Russians. Although Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is reporting increases in the number of migrants it “encounters,” (an 82% increase from June to July; a 36% increase from July to  August), the numbers of migrants encountered by CBP are still well below the numbers from 2022.

Mexican nationals still top the numbers of encounters by CBP. But current trends indicate that Venezuelans might soon push them out of that number one spot.

To slow the migration of Venezuelans to the US, the Biden administration is taking some new steps. One: Biden signed an agreement with President Maduro to lift some of the economic sanctions on Venezuela and, in reciprocity, Maduro agreed to start accepting deportation flights of Venezuelans. Two: Biden announced in September that it will allow Venezuelans who entered the U.S. on or before July 31 to receive temporary protected status, allowing them to apply for a work visa and deferred deportation for 18 months. Three: Biden plans to spend $10 million in foreign aid to help Panama deport more migrants who do not qualify for asylum protections. Four: In June, the US opened two Safe Mobility Offices in Colombia (as it has in Costa Rica and Guatemala) to consider nationals from Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela for humanitarian protection or other legal pathways. Five: The US had made deals with Panama and Mexico to begin deporting citizens of Venezuela from their countries.

Since Venezuelans can no longer get visas to fly to places like Mexico, many are been voyaging through the deadly jungles of the Darién Gap that lies between Colombia and Panama. According to the government of Panamá, 334,000 migrants have made the trek since January; 60% have been Venezuelan. The $10 million Biden is offering to Panama (see above) is intended to push US border enforcement south from the US-Mexico border to the Panama-Colombia border.

Migration justice advocates continue to call for addressing structural issues in Latin America that are pushing emigration. Many of those issues are caused by, or exacerbated by, US policies (e.g., militarization of security forces, economic sanctions, mineral extraction, support for non-democratic regimes). Unless people see hope of real change and can envision raising their families in safe environments at home, migration will continue. But the US continues to respond with militarized borders, criminalization of migration, mass incarceration, and deportation.

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Welcome to IRTF’s October 2023 newsletter on Migrant Justice and the current situation at the US-Mexico border! After you’ve looked through the articles, we hope you can take a few minutes to see the TAKE ACTION items at the bottom.

UN experts, led by Marco Feoli Villalobos of the UN Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture (SPT), urged Guatemala to safeguard the human rights of detainees after their second visit to the country. Despite challenges in transportation and communication, the delegation inspected over 20 detention facilities, including prisons, migrant shelters, and children's homes. They found alarming conditions that could amount to torture and called on Guatemala to modernize its criminal justice system with input from all branches of government. The SPT will share its findings and recommendations in a confidential report with Guatemala, encouraging the state to make it public. The delegation also engaged with civil society and international organizations during their visit.

In Guatemala, widespread protests have erupted against corruption and impunity within the government. Demonstrators demand the resignation of corrupt officials, including Attorney General Consuelo Porras, and express frustration over a history of oppressive systems. Indigenous leaders and various sectors of society have joined an indefinite national strike since October 2nd, seeking dialogue with the government. Despite attempts at peaceful resolution, the government responded with repression, deploying police and military forces. President Giammattei's lack of political will to address corruption led to continued protests. Paramilitary groups and drug traffickers threatened protesters, intensifying the situation. President-elect Bernardo Arévalo sought support from the U.S., but the long-term interests of both countries differ. The unity of the Guatemalan people, including those in the diaspora, remained strong. Peaceful protests at the Public Ministry persisted despite government attempts to disperse them. The demonstrations, spanning various sectors and communities, echoed the historic resistance of Indigenous Peoples, marking a collective demand for democracy, the right to protest, and an end to corruption and impunity in Guatemala.

Guatemalan Interior Minister Napoleón Barrientos resigned amid ongoing pro-democracy protests and disagreements within President Alejandro Giammattei's administration on handling roadblocks. Barrientos, favoring dialogue with protesters, stepped down after a shooting near a roadblock. Attorney General Consuelo Porras, demanding immediate blockades removal, had called for Barrientos' dismissal. The unidentified shooters prompted condemnation from Barrientos' ministry. Indigenous groups, protesting alleged interference in elections, vow to maintain roadblocks until Porras and prosecutors resign. The government appointed a replacement, emphasizing adherence to the rule of law. Barrientos' resignation reflects administration weakness amid civil unrest.

In Guatemala, ongoing protests demanding an orderly transition for President-elect Bernardo Arevalo took a violent turn. One person died and four were injured in clashes on Monday. Arevalo, a reform-oriented leader, won a significant victory in August. However, the independent attorney general's intensified investigations into the election and Arevalo's party raised concerns. Protesters, numbering in the tens of thousands, demanded the resignation of Attorney General Consuelo Porras and other judicial officials accused of politically-motivated inquiries. Armed groups attacked protesters, leading to injuries and fatalities. President-elect Arevalo expressed support for the peaceful demonstrators and called for authorities to ensure their safety.

Before Guatemala’s presidential election, candidate Bernardo Arévalo initially had low expectations of winning, preferring to return to his private life after the campaign. However, his unexpected appeal led him to finish second in the initial vote, forcing a runoff which he won by a landslide. Arévalo, a former diplomat and peacemaking expert, is now the president-elect of Guatemala, facing challenges in a country marred by violence, poverty, and a history of civil war. The son of a former president, Arévalo spent his childhood in exile during Guatemala’s military governments, which feared his father’s popularity. He pursued studies in sociology and political sociology, eventually engaging in peacemaking efforts globally. Arévalo became a congressman in 2020 and ran for president, winning on a platform focused on rooting out corruption. His victory has sparked efforts to nullify the election results, with investigations and challenges from various quarters. Despite the challenges, Arévalo, known for his calm demeanor and integrity, vows to tackle corruption, expand social services, and lead Guatemala toward a better future.

Continuous demonstrations and road blockades in Guatemala intensify as riot police and armed groups attempt to suppress protesters demanding the resignation of Attorney General Consuelo Porras, prosecutors, and Judge Fredy Orellana. Security forces used violence to evict peaceful protesters, including pregnant women and children, demanding the return of democracy and respect for the election results that declared Bernardo Arévalo president and Karin Herrera vice-president. Shock groups associated with political interests also attempted to disperse demonstrators outside the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Guatemala City. Additionally, citizens in different regions, such as Quetzaltenango and Totonicapán, mobilized to prevent riot police from suppressing their right to protest. The government faces accusations of undermining the electoral process and escalating repression against protesters, judges, lawyers, and prosecutors. Business chambers pressure the government to clear highways occupied by protesters. Despite the challenges, peaceful protests and road blockades continue across the country.

The 2023 election in Guatemala reflects decades of human rights violations since colonial times, leading to power consolidation among a few for economic interests. Despite this, Guatemalan people, including indigenous groups and civil society organizations, have protested against authoritarian actions by the government. The elections faced challenges, including opposition candidate prohibitions and alleged voter fraud. The government’s actions, collusion between institutions, and attempts to control the justice system pose threats to democracy. The future remains uncertain, with attention focused on key dates: October 31, when Semilla’s suspension could resume, and January 14, 2024, the presidential inauguration, pending resolution of democracy-related issues. Amidst theses challenges, Guatemalan people persist in defending their rights, resisting oppression, and mobilizing for change. NISGUA calls for global solidarity with Guatemalan people in their struggle for democracy.  

On behalf of IRTF’s Rapid Response Network (RRN) members, we wrote six letters this month to heads of state and other high-level officials in Colombia, Guatemala, and Honduras, urging their swift action in response to human rights abuses occurring in their countries.  We join with civil society groups in Latin America to: (1) protect people living under threat, (2) demand investigations into human rights crimes, (3) bring human rights criminals to justice.

Volunteers with the Rapid Response Network (RRN)—together with IRTF staff—write letters in response to six urgent human rights cases each month. We send copies of these letters to US ambassadors, embassy human rights officers, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, regional representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and desk officers at the US State Department. To read the letters, see https://www.irtfcleveland.org/content/rrn , or ask us to mail you hard copies.