Escape of 20 Members Of Gang Designated As Terrorist By The U.S. Sparks Political Turmoil in Central American Country

The escape of 20 members of the Barrio 18 gang, a criminal organization designated last month by the Trump administration as a foreign terrorist group, has sparked a political crisis in Guatemala. Lawmakers from both the ruling party and the opposition are calling for the removal of Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez and demanding a thorough investigation into who enabled the escape.

Guatemalan authorities say the 20 gang members "evaded security controls" at Fraijanes II prison. Prison Director Ludin Godínez said he received an intelligence report on Oct. 10 about a "possible escape" from the facility, located about 12 miles south of Guatemala City.

Although the government only disclosed the information recently, a former Guatemalan prosecutor told local media the escape actually occurred two months ago. Intelligence and prison audits only revealed the absence of inmates during a biometric census and head count conducted over the weekend.

"During the procedure, it was reliably established that 20 inmates had evaded security controls and were no longer in Fraijanes II," Jiménez said in a press conference Monday. He said that investigations are underway into possible corruption connected to the escape.

The Guatemalan Penitentiary System reports the escape was planned and carried out in groups over multiple days, with both internal and external assistance.

Members of Congress from the Semilla ruling party, which remains suspended amid legal disputes, joined opposition calls for Jiménez's dismissal. One representative said the party supports President Bernardo Arévalo's agenda "but not the incompetence of his officials."

"I spoke with President Arévalo to request the removal of those responsible, starting with the minister," said Samuel Pérez, as reported by El País. He added that Jiménez has lost public trust and that at minimum, a clear plan must be announced to recapture the fugitives.

The U.S. embassy in Guatemala also expressed its disapproval. Calling the escape "utterly unacceptable," the embassy urged the Guatemalan government to act immediately to capture the fugitives.

"The United States designated this heinous group as terrorists, and will hold accountable anyone who has provided or decides to provide material support to these fugitives or other gang members," said the embassy on social media.

On Oct. 13, Vice President Karin Herrera announced on X that federal security forces had recaptured one fugitive, while the remaining 19 were still being pursued by national agencies.

Also via X, Jiménez announced that the government is offering nearly $20,000 for information leading to the capture of each individual still at large.

While government officials continue looking for the fugitives, critics say that authorities knew about the escape. As El País reported, former Public Prosecutor Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa recently accused Jiménez and Deputy Minister Claudia Palencia of negotiating a "pact" with Barrio 18, claiming the agreement allowed some prisoners to walk free in exchange for a reduction of violence in the country.

"My version is that this occurred with full complicity from the top of the Interior Ministry, meaning the minister and the deputy minister, even with senior National Civil Police officials, who allowed these inmates to exit in police uniforms during one of the many inspections in August," Solórzano told Emisoras Unidas.

Jiménez denied the allegations Monday, adding he will not resign but first wants the matter fully resolved. "I will not leave this post until this issue is solved. I cannot abandon it half resolved," he said.

In his remarks, he also noted a major weakness in the prison system, saying it lacks a reliable census of inmates, a flaw he implied likely contributes to escapes.

Following the escape, Jiménez confirmed that several prison officials had been dismissed. He also stated the government would seek U.S. support to carry out polygraph examinations of suspects before deciding whether to file charges.

As El País pointed out, this is not Guatemala's first mass prison escape. In 2018, a local newspaper documented 14 inmates from both Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha gangs breaking out of two prisons with the help of guards.