Central America
El Salvador says over 15,000 suspected gang members arrested
AFP
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele said Friday that police and soldiers have arrested more than 15,000 suspected gang members in under a month in a crackdown seeking to halt surging homicides.
Bukele announced a state of emergency at the end of March following a bloody weekend in which 87 people were killed in gang-related violence.
Since then, the police and military have been rounding up suspected gang members using emergency powers that have done away with the need for arrest warrants.
“More than 15,000 terrorists captured in only 27 days. We continue the War Against Gangs,” the president said on Twitter.
The wave of detentions is unprecedented in a country that has suffered decades of violent crime driven by powerful gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18.
These gangs count some 70,000 members, about 26,000 of whom are behind bars, according to authorities.
A CID Gallup poll published Thursday said 78 percent of Salvadorans fully support the fight against gangs.
A state of emergency decreed by Congress at Bukele’s request last month allowed for arrests without warrants and increased sentences for gang membership five-fold to up to 45 years.
Rights groups say innocent people are getting caught up in an indiscriminate roundup.
The emergency law also allows jail terms of up to 15 years for anyone “spreading” gang-related messages in the media, prompting journalists to raise censorship fears.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken referred to the crackdown during a visit to Panama to discuss migration with regional leaders.
“We can tackle violence and crime while also protecting civil rights and fundamental freedoms,” said Blinken.
“El Salvador has experienced setbacks in democratic governance, in the separation of powers, the rule of law. And we look to President Bukele to make progress in addressing some of those setbacks,” he added.
Earlier this month, Bukele hit out at the administration of US President Joe Biden over a perceived lack of support.
The US says it has invested $411 million in improving citizen security and helping El Salvador combat gang violence since 2008.
Central America
Honduras reports four influenza deaths and 587 cases in 2025 amid COVID-19 rise
Honduran health authorities confirmed on Monday four deaths caused by the influenza virus, which has affected 587 people so far in 2025. During this period, two deaths due to COVID-19 have also been reported.
Lorenzo Pavón, head of the Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Health, stated that the individuals who died from influenza were over 50 years old and passed away due to complications related to chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and kidney failure.
The deaths occurred in the departments of El Paraíso (east), Ocotepeque (west), and in the cities of Siguatepeque and Comayagua, located in the central region of the country, Pavón detailed without providing further case specifics.
Official data shows that so far this year, 571 infections of the influenza A H1N1 virus and 16 cases of influenza B have been confirmed.
Among the total influenza A infections, 302 were women and 268 men, with the population between 15 and 49 years being the most affected, with 167 cases recorded, Pavón detailed.
Health authorities warned that vaccination remains the primary tool to prevent complications caused by the virus, against which antibiotics are ineffective.
They also recommended the population, especially vulnerable groups, to get the influenza vaccine, avoid self-medication, and seek medical attention if symptoms appear.
Meanwhile, Pavón indicated that the country has also reported two COVID-19 deaths and 261 confirmed cases, with 107 men and 154 women affected, women being the majority.
The age groups with the highest incidence of COVID-19 are adults between 20 and 29 years, with 54 cases, and children aged 0 to 9, with 47 infections.
In light of the rise in COVID-19 cases, health authorities recommended strengthening biosecurity measures such as frequent hand washing, wearing masks in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces, and using hand sanitizer.
Central America
U.S. revokes visas of top Costa Rican lawmakers and constitutional judge
The United States government has revoked the visas of Rodrigo Arias, president of Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly, and Paul Rueda, a justice of the Constitutional Chamber, expanding the list of Costa Rican officials affected by such measures in 2025.
The Constitutional Chamber confirmed the cancellation of Justice Rueda’s visa but stated it would not issue further comments. Meanwhile, local media reported the case of Rodrigo Arias, who has led the Assembly for the past three years and maintained a critical stance toward President Rodrigo Chaves’s administration.
Visa revocations against Costa Rican political figures began following a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to San José in February. During the trip, Rubio warned of potential sanctions against those collaborating with foreign actors that could pose a risk to U.S. cybersecurity.
While in Costa Rica, Rubio praised President Chaves for halting Chinese companies’ involvement in major tech infrastructure projects, including the development of 5G networks.
Since then, the U.S. has also revoked visas of lawmakers Francisco Nicolás (National Liberation Party), Johana Obando and Cynthia Córdoba (Progressive Liberal Party), as well as Ana Sofía Machuca, general auditor of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute. All were accused of allegedly favoring Chinese firm Huawei in 5G-related tenders—criticism led by President Chaves and members of his cabinet.
In April, even former president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Óscar Arias, brother of Rodrigo Arias, had his visa revoked. Arias has publicly criticized the U.S. over its military spending and, more recently, the immigration and trade policies of President Donald Trump.
As with previous cases, the U.S. government has not disclosed the specific reasons behind the visa revocations.
Central America
Guatemala hit by over 300 quakes; death toll rises to seven
At least seven people have died as a result of a series of earthquakes that have shaken three departments in central Guatemala since Tuesday, according to the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred).
In its latest update, Conred reported that 2,138 people have been affected, and 347 have been displaced and are receiving humanitarian assistance.
“Our deepest condolences to the families. There are no words at a time like this, but know that the pain you feel is the pain of the entire Guatemalan people,” said President Bernardo Arévalo, expressing solidarity with the families of the victims. Of the seven deceased, five have been identified, while two remain unidentified as the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif) continues its work.
To address the emergency, the government has opened nine shelters, currently housing 586 people affected by the tremors.
Since the start of seismic activity, the National Institute for Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh) has recorded 340 earthquakes, including 32 in the last few hours, with magnitudes ranging between 1.2 and 5.6.
One of the most severely impacted areas is the Santa María bridge, located at kilometer 39+100 on the road to Palín, Escuintla. Authorities have begun coordinating its repair.
A total of 28 road segments have sustained damage: 11 in Sacatepéquez, 7 in Guatemala, 6 in Chimaltenango, and 4 in Escuintla.
Conred has urged the population to drive cautiously, avoid speeding, take extra care in mountainous areas or on roads with a history of structural issues, and report any emergencies to the 24-hour hotline 119.
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