Guatemala News

Mexico detained more than 2,000 after caravan border crossing

By AFP

Mexico - Mexican migration authorities released Wednesday an official count of the number of people detained along the country's southern border two days before, estimating that more than 2,000 people were "rescued" after they crossed the border with Guatemala....

Mexican troops block US-bound caravan travelers

By AFP

Ciudad Hidalgo - Mexican troops urged some 1,500 Central American migrants to maintain "order and respect" on Saturday after the group attempted to force entry into the country from Guatemala in the hopes of trekking onward to the United States.

Honduran migrant caravan rumbles on through Guatemala

By AFP

Guatemala City - More than 1,000 Honduran migrants broke through a police barrier on the border with Guatemala on Thursday in a bid to join hundreds of others heading for the United States.

Giammattei set to swear in as Guatemala president under corruption cloud

By AFP

Guatemala City - Right-wing Alejandro Giammattei is set to swear in as Guatemala's new president on Tuesday with a vow to tackle corruption, replacing the unpopular Jimmy Morales.

US will send Mexican asylum seekers to Guatemala: DHS

By AFP

Washington - The United States will send some Mexicans seeking asylum to Guatemala, concluding a controversial migration deal with Washington, the US Department of Homeland Security told AFP on Monday.

Guatemalan indigenous people march in support of Morales

By AFP

Guatemala City - Hundreds of indigenous people marched through the Guatemalan capital on Thursday in support of Bolivia's ex-president Evo Morales, granted asylum in Mexico after resigning amid protests over election irregularities.

US gives security support to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador

By AFP

Washington - US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador would receive assistance on law enforcement and security issues after they signed immigration agreements with Washington.

Guatemala sees hike in migrant expulsions from Mexico

By AFP

Guatemala City - Mexico has sent more than 100,000 Central American migrants back across its border with Guatemala since January, a 63 percent rise on the same period last year, the government announced Wednesday.

Guatemala's UN-backed anti-corruption body shuts down

By AFP

Guatemala City - UN anti-corruption prosecutors pulled the curtain down on more than a decade of high-profile investigations in Guatemala when its mandate ended Tuesday, heightening fears of a return to impunity in the Central American country.

New Guatemalan leader demands respect from Trump

By AFP

Guatemala City - Guatemala's president-elect Alejandro Giammattei said in an interview with AFP he would not seek confrontation with President Donald Trump over Central America's migration crisis but would demand respect from his US counterpart.

Conservative Giammattei elected Guatemala president

By AFP

Guatemala City - Conservative Alejandro Giammattei was elected as Guatemala's president on Sunday, defeating former first lady Sandra Torres in a run-off, the central American country's electoral court said.

Authoritarian or angry? Guatemala's presidential candidates

By AFP

Guatemala City - Guatemalans worried by corruption, poverty, gang violence and migration head to the polls on Sunday to decide which of two candidates will be their next president: center-left former first lady Sandra Torres or conservative Alejandro Giammattei.

US migration pact weighs heavily on Guatemala election

By AFP

Guatemala City - More than eight million Guatemalans will head to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president with the country mired in a political scandal over a controversial migration deal with the United States.

US eyes migration deals with rest of Central America after Guatemala's

By AFP

Guatemala City - The United States will seek migration deals with El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama, akin to last week's with Guatemala, to curb emigration from Central America, a senior US official said Thursday.

Guatemalans protest controversial US migrant pact

By AFP

Guatemala City - Dozens of Guatemalans protested on Wednesday against a controversial pact signed by the government with Washington aimed at curbing migration into the United States.

Canada miner apologizes for violating Guatemala protesters' rights

By AFP

Montr - A Canadian mining firm has apologized after reaching an agreement with demonstrators shot and wounded while protesting the company's Guatemalan gold and silver mine, according to statements Tuesday from both sides.

Migration deal with US meets mixed reactions in Guatemala

By AFP

Guatemala City - A migration pact with the United States drew sharply mixed reactions in Guatemala on Saturday, as business groups welcomed it for helping avoid US punitive measures while rights groups called it "cruel and illegal.

Trump announces controversial asylum deal with Guatemala

By AFP

Washington - President Donald Trump announced Friday that a "landmark" asylum agreement has been reached with Guatemala, as the United States ratchets up pressure on its southern neighbors to stem the flow of migrants towards its border.

Despondent Guatemalan coffee growers dream of US return

By AFP

Morales - Many Guatemalans who spent years working in the United States to come home and set up a small coffee-growing business have seen their savings drained and their hopes dashed due to low coffee prices.

US diverts Central America aid to boost Venezuela's Guaido

By AFP

Washington - President Donald Trump's administration is diverting nearly $42 million in development aid from Guatemala and Honduras to promote Venezuela's opposition chief Juan Guaido, including paying staff salaries, an internal document showed.

Guatemala court blocks signing of migration deal with US

By AFP

Guatemala City - Guatemala's constitutional court has granted an injunction blocking President Jimmy Morales from signing a controversial deal with the United States that would oblige the Central American country to welcome migrants, at least in the short term.

Guatemala to hold election recount over fraud allegations

By AFP

Guatemala City - Guatemala will hold a vote recount after fraud allegations in the wake of last Sunday's presidential and legislative elections, the country's Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) announced Thursday.

Trump says US to begin removing 'millions' of illegal migrants

By AFP

Washington - The United States will start removing "millions" of illegal migrants next week, President Donald Trump said Monday, adding that Guatemala is preparing to sign a safe third country deal.

US says CentrAm aid depends on 'actions' to curb migration

By AFP

Washington - The United States said Monday it would not offer any more aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras unless they take "concrete actions" to deter undocumented migrants from heading for the US.

Mexico detains 791 migrants, including 368 children under eight

By AFP

Coatzacoalcos - A total of 791 Central American migrants, including 368 children under the age of eight, have been detained in the Mexican state of Veracruz, officials said Sunday.

Former first lady Torres takes lead in Guatemala presidential vote

By AFP

Guatemala City - Former first lady Sandra Torres was in the lead after partial results early Monday from Guatemala's presidential election, following a tumultuous campaign that saw two leading candidates barred and the top electoral crimes prosecutor flee the corruptio...

Corruption tainted Guatemala set to elect new president

By AFP

Guatemala City - Corruption-weary Guatemalans are set to elect a new president Sunday after a tumultuous campaign that saw two leading candidates barred from taking part and the top electoral crimes prosecutor forced to flee the country, fearing for his life.