US Embassy in Guatemala Issues Security Alert After Gang Violence

American citizens traveling to the Central American Nation are ‘advised to maintain a high level of caution.’

Presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo speaks during a press conference after preliminary results showed him the victor in a presidential run-off election in Guatemala City, on Aug. 20, 2023. AP Photo/Moises Castillo

The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala this week issued an alert warning American citizens to exercise caution while in the Latin American country, noting that it lifted an earlier security order for U.S. officials there.

“The U.S. Embassy has lifted the shelter-in-place order for its personnel. However, the situation remains tense, with armed attacks against the National Civil Police in multiple areas of Guatemala City,” it said in a Jan. 18 post on X.

The embassy added that U.S. citizens “are advised to maintain a high level of caution when traveling and to follow the local news and announcements from the Government of Guatemala for more information.”

The embassy said that citizens who are in Guatemala should monitor local media to get updates, avoid demonstrations and crowds, keep a low profile, be aware of their surroundings, notify friends and family, minimize unnecessary movements in the country, and review their security plans.

While the embassy notice did not say why citizens should be cautious, officials in the Central American country announced earlier in the week that gang members had attacked the police force. So far, at least 10 officers have died in the attacks, authorities said.

The violence, which began on Jan. 17, led Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo to declare an emergency after inmates seized control of three prisons, taking 43 guards hostage.

Gang members had demanded more privileges for their members and leaders, according to authorities. Shortly after police regained control of one prison on Jan. 18, suspected gang members attacked police across the capital.

“Today it pains me to give each one of the families this flag, symbol of the nation that will not forget the sacrifice and commitment of their police fallen in the fulfillment of their duty,” Arevalo said on Jan. 19.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs condemned the attacks on Guatemala’s police, describing the assailants as terrorists.

“These terrorists, as well as those who cooperate with them or are linked to them, have no place in our hemisphere,” the department said in a Jan. 19 post on social media. “The security of the Guatemalan people and the stability of our hemisphere must prevail. We reaffirm our support for Guatemala’s security forces to curb the violence.”

Guatemala has been under a U.S. State Department-issued Level 3 travel advisory since December 2024, which warns Americans to reconsider travel to the country due to crime. It notes that some areas have higher risks than others, advising citizens not to travel at all to certain areas, including parts of the San Marcos Department, Huehuetenango Department, Zone 18 in Guatemala City, or Villa Nueva.

The agency says that U.S. government employees or their families cannot travel to any of those areas, but can travel to other areas, such as popular destinations.

Aside from Guatemala, a U.S. State Department map shows that much of Central America, except El Salvador, is under some form of elevated travel advisory, including Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Belize, and Panama.

Numerous states in Mexico are also under State Department travel advisories, ranging from Level 2, which advises people to exercise increased caution, to Level 4, which advises people not to travel there, according to the map.

Colombia is under a Level 3 advisory, and neighboring Venezuela is under a Level 4 advisory.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.