Guatemala ends state of emergency after anti-gang crackdown

Guatemala has ended a month-long state of emergency introduced after suspected gang members killed 10 police officers, President Bernardo Arévalo announced. The emergency powers, which allowed warrantless arrests and restricted constitutional rights, expired Monday (17 February), with less restrictive security measures expected to begin Tuesday.

President Arévalo said the government arrested 83 suspected gang members during the emergency period. He also stated that homicide rates and reported extortion cases declined compared with the same period in 2025, though no figures were released.

The decision contrasts with the extended anti-gang strategy in El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele has maintained extraordinary security powers, renewed monthly by Congress, for nearly four years.

ℹ️ AP News

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Soldiers patrol an area next to a piece of graffiti referring to the Mara Salvatrucha gang during the country’s state of emergency, following an escalation of gang-related violence, on the outskirts of Guatemala City, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo, File)
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Guatemala ends state of emergency after anti-gang crackdown
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