OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON Media Note August 14, 2020 The text of the following declaration was released by several members of the Lima Group, the International Contact Group, the European Union, the United States, and others. Begin text: We, a group of concerned countries including members of the Lima Group, the International Contact Group, the European Union, the United States, …

United States Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan Southern District of Florida August 5, 2020 Former Guatemalan Official Who Used Drug Trafficking Proceeds and Other Dirty Cash to Bribe Corrupt Politicians Charged in Miami Federal Court Miami, Fl. — South Florida federal prosecutors have charged a former Economics Minister of Guatemala, Asisclo Valladares Urruela, 44, with helping to …

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2020 WWW.JUSTICE.GOV The Operation is a coordinated effort to dismantle and destroy MS-13 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General William P. Barr announced significant cases related to Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), an initiative launched in August 2019 aimed at disrupting, dismantling, and ultimately, destroying MS-13.  President Trump …

REF# 2020 – 21 July 2, 2020 The U.S. Embassy, including the Consular Section, will be closed on Friday, July 3 in honor of the United States Independence Day. The Embassy will re-open on Monday, July 6, with limited emergency services due to public health restrictions stemming from COVID-19: See  here  for information on American Citizen Services. See  here  for …

Telephonic Press Briefing with Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Acting Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Mark A. Morgan, Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection   June 29, 2020 Moderator:  Greetings to everyone from the U.S. Department of State’s Media Hub of the Americas in Miami, …

REF# 2020 – 19 June 12, 2020 The killing of Tata Domingo Choc Chen, a renowned expert on Maya Q’eqchi’ medicine, is a tragic reminder of the pervasive violence that continues to impact Indigenous Peoples across Guatemala.  We echo President Giammattei’s call for the Public Ministry to bring those responsible to justice, and understand that Guatemalan authorities have arrested …

REF# 2020 – 18 June 11, 2020 The U.S. Government is providing an additional $15 million in foreign assistance for Guatemala to slow the spread of COVID-19 and address rising food insecurity. The Department of State announced that Guatemala will receive $6 million in International Disaster Assistance funds to rapidly address critical gaps in water, sanitation, and hygiene …

April 3, 2020 Guatemala City The Department of State has announced that it will provide funding to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to supply Guatemala, along with dozens of other countries, with equipment to help combat COVID-19. Guatemala will receive COVID-19 testing kits capable of processing at least 2,000 samples, as well as personal …

MEDIA NOTE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON DECEMBER 11, 2019 The U.S. government will officially launch the expanded Growth in the Americas (América Crece) initiative on December 17 in Washington, D.C.  Growth in the Americas is a whole-of-government initiative that will foster private sector infrastructure investment in Latin America and the Caribbean.  Expanded bilateral cooperation between the United States and countries in the region will …

U.S. Department of State Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State December 10, 2019 In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) to identify common rights and freedoms for all people in all nations. An American, former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, chaired the UN Human Rights Commission that drafted …

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesperson  STATEMENT BY SECRETARY MICHAEL R. POMPEO December 3, 2019 The Department of State designates former Guatemalan Minister of Communications, Infrastructure, and Housing Alejandro Sinibaldi due to his involvement in significant corruption. Mr. Sinibaldi engaged in and benefitted from public corruption in relation to his official duties and …

REF# 2019-27 November 27, 2019 The U.S. Embassy, including the Consular Section, will be closed on Thursday, November 28, to commemorate Thanksgiving Day.   The mission, including all agencies of the U.S. government represented in Guatemala, will resume their regular activities on Friday, November 28.

U.S Department of the Treasury Press Releases June 4, 2019 WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) unveiled amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) to further implement the President’s foreign policy on Cuba. These amendments complement changes to the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and …

May 28, 2019 WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan is in Guatemala this week to participate in bilateral and multilateral meetings with government officials representing Northern Triangle countries, local civic and indigenous leaders, non-governmental organizations, and U.S. private sector and Guatemalan business leaders. The meetings will highlight the …

Attempted to enter Meskwaki Casino using fraudulent identification Tuesday, March 12, 2019 A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to almost four months in federal prison. Victor Morales-Suar, age 42, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Marshalltown, Iowa, received the …

REF# 2019-3 January 27, 2018 The United States Embassy in Guatemala has resumed full operations effective today, January 28, 2019. ###

Office of the Spokesperson U.S. Department of State The United States, in partnership with the government of Mexico, is committed to promoting a safer and more prosperous Central America by enhancing security, governance, and economic prosperity that can create greater opportunities and benefits for the people of the region and help us jointly address the …

REF# 2018-57 December 4, 2018 The U.S. Embassy, including the Consular Section, will be closed on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 in remembrance of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush.  Visa appointments for this day have been rescheduled.  For additional instructions about rescheduling a visa appointment, please check your email or contact the consular services helpline …

REF# 2018-55 21 de noviembre de 2018 The U.S. Embassy, including the Consular Section, will be closed on Thursday, November 22, to commemorate Thanksgiving Day. The mission, including all agencies of the U.S. government represented in Guatemala, will resume their regular activities on Friday, November 23.

REF# 2018-54 November 9, 2018 The U.S. Embassy, including the Consular Section, will be closed on Monday, November 12, to commemorated Veteran’s Day. The mission, including all agencies of the U.S. government represented in Guatemala, will resume their regular activities on Tuesday, November 13.

REF# 2018-50 October 5, 2018 The U.S. Embassy, including the Consular Section, will be closed on Monday, October 8, in honor of U.S. Columbus Day. The mission, including all agencies of the U.S. government represented in Guatemala, will resume their regular activities on Tuesday, October 9

Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC September 25, 2018 Today, the United States imposed sanctions on four current or former officials of the Government of Venezuela: First Lady and Former Attorney General Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro, Executive Vice President Delcy Eloina Rodriguez Gomez, Minister of Communication and Information Jorge Jesus Rodriguez Gomez, …

Readout Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC September 6, 2018 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:‎ Secretary Michael R. Pompeo called Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales today. The Secretary reiterated the United States’ support for Guatemalan sovereignty. They discussed the importance of continuing our cooperation in the fight against corruption and impunity and the …

REF# 2018-45 Since 2013 the United States Government has donated 148 Jeep J8 vehicles to the Government of Guatemala. These vehicles were donated for law enforcement use by the Interagency Task Forces Tecun Uman, Chorti, and Xinca for the purpose of combatting criminal activity and narcotics trafficking, with a focus on Guatemala’s borders. Several of …

REF# 2018-44 The United States is aware of the Guatemalan Government’s decision not to renew the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala’s (CICIG) mandate to operate in Guatemala.  As many senior U.S. officials have stated, we believe that CICIG is an effective and important partner in fighting impunity, improving governance, and holding the corrupt accountable …

The White House Office of the Press Secretary The United States strongly condemns the ongoing violence in Nicaragua and human rights abuses committed by the Ortega regime in response to protests. After years of fraudulent elections and the regime’s manipulation of Nicaraguan law – as well as the suppression of civil society, opposition parties, and independent …

REF#2018-40 July 27, 2018 The State Department released an update on July 27 to its Travel Advisory for Guatemala originally published on January 10, 2018.  The updated Advisory lowered the Advisory level for Guatemala from a Level 3 to a Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution due to crime.  The State Department also recommends U.S. citizens …

REF#2018-36 July 3, 2018 The U.S. Embassy, including the Consular Section, will be closed on Wednesday, July 4th, in honor of U.S. Independence Day. The mission, including all agencies of the U.S. government represented in Guatemala, will resume their regular activities on Thursday, July 5th.

REF# 2018-34 June 13, 2018 In response to the recent killings of human rights defenders in Guatemala, the Embassy of the United States of America strongly condemns this wave of violence, particularly attacks targeting campesino leaders. We reaffirm the valuable work of human rights defenders, who are at the forefront of the struggle for a …

Statement By Heather Nauert, Spokesperson U.S. Department Of State On June 11, 2018, pursuant to the extradition treaty between the United States of America and the Republic of Panama, the United States extradited the former President of Panama Ricardo Martinelli to face criminal charges in Panama. Mr. Martinelli was arrested in Miami on June 12, 2017 …

REF# 2018-32 June 6, 2018 The United States is supporting the Government of Guatemala’s response to the devastation caused by the June 3 eruption of the Fuego volcano by providing an initial $300,000 in immediate humanitarian assistance. With this support, the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) is working …

REF# 2018-33 June 6, 2018 On the night of June 6th a U.S. Air Force C-17 transport lifted off from Aurora airport carrying six gravely injured children, including one pair of siblings.  The children, all of whom were seriously burned during the Fuego Volcano eruption on June 3, are on their way to the Shriners …

U.S. Department of Treasury Public Affairs Office Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated ten current or former Venezuelan government officials pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13692.  These individuals are associated with undermining electoral processes, media censorship, or corruption in government-administered food programs in Venezuela.  This designation …

The U.S. Embassy, including the Consular Section, will be closed on Friday, November 10, in honor of Veterans Day. The mission, including all agencies of the U.S. government represented in Guatemala, will resume their regular activities on Monday, November 13.

U.S. State Department Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert The United States condemns the Maduro regime’s increasing disrespect for democracy and fundamental human rights in Venezuela. By attempting to strip the democratically elected National Assembly’s Vice President and opposition leader Freddy Guevara of his parliamentary immunity and barring him from leaving the country, the regime is pursuing yet …

Department of Homeland Security Office of the Press Secretary WASHINGTON— Today, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke announced her decision to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Nicaragua with a delayed effective date of 12 months to allow for an orderly transition before the designation terminates on January 5, 2019. She also …

Heather Nauert U.S. State Department Spokesperson November 2, 2017 Around the world, journalists work often at great personal risk to report on issues that impact the lives of individuals in all societies. They shine a light on abuses and corruption, expose threats posed by transnational criminal organizations, and counter disinformation and propaganda that spread false …