Central America

Guatemala opens centers to apply for legal migration to the U.S.

Photo: AP

June 13 |

A program announced by the United States and Guatemala to discourage irregular migration from Central America began Monday with the launch of a website that will receive applications for refugee status, family reunification and visas from those seeking to reach U.S. territory.

The program, called Secure Mobility, on the website https://movilidadsegura.org will be administered by the US government, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), according to the Guatemalan Foreign Ministry.

“A form must be filled out, data must be entered; then an appointment will be scheduled in which it will be explained to people personally if they are eligible to opt for any of the existing mechanisms to migrate to the United States,” explained the Secretary of Communication of the Presidency of Guatemala, Kevin Lopez.

For his part, the US Ambassador to Guatemala, William Popp, said that it is “a virtual platform for Guatemalans, Salvadorans, Hondurans, Nicaraguans can access through a virtual way to find opportunities for legal channels for a safe migration, also orderly, between family reunification, work visa opportunities and also to apply for opportunities for the refugee program.”

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Although it was announced that the platform would be available to schedule appointments from 10:00 a.m. on Monday morning it was not, and only in the afternoon were those interested able to start their formalities.

The Centers for Attention to Migrants and Refugees (Capmir), are located in the Guatemalan Air Force, Petén, Quetzaltenango, San Marcos, Quiché and Huehuetenango.

With the opening of these centers at origin, financed by the US, Washington is trying to establish migratory actions in countries that, like Guatemala, are used as transit countries by migrants fleeing poverty and violence in the region.

According to the website, all citizens covered by the Central American Free Mobility Agreement (CA-4), that is, citizens of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua who are in their countries, can register.

However, “not all persons requesting an evaluation will qualify or benefit from the program,” the site explains.

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Those interested must be 18 years old, have a valid email address, a valid phone number or an international data plan. In addition, they will be asked for a stable internet connection, digital photographs of the applicant and their family members, as well as scanned copy or photographs of their identity documents such as passport and identity card, as long as they are available.

The information is completely free of charge. The pilot plan will run for six months.

The White House announced that these offices will also start working in Colombia on June 19, one week after Guatemala.

Central America

Panama’s Geisha Coffee Retains Pure Ethiopian Genetics, Studies Find

Panama’s exclusive Geisha coffee variety retains the full genetic purity of its Ethiopian ancestors and preserves a distinctive sensory profile, according to two studies presented by the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP).

“Ensuring that the genetics we have in Panama remain 100% pure is vital for the country’s future,” Ricardo Koyner, president of Panama’s specialty coffee association, told EFE.

Panamanian Geisha coffee has gained international fame after breaking price records at global auctions. In the latest auction, a kilogram sold for more than $30,000.

The variety is highly sought after, particularly in Asian markets, for its complex flavor, which differs from traditional strong coffee, as well as its distinctive floral aroma.

Studies confirm genetic purity and unique flavor

A genetic analysis conducted in France found that Geisha coffee trees grown in Panama retain the same genetic lineage as the original plants from Ethiopia. Those plants are preserved at the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) in Costa Rica, through which the coffee variety reached Panama.

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“We compared Panama’s Geisha with the original Geisha from CATIE, which is the ancestral reference. The genetics are exactly the same,” explained Christophe Montagnon, director of the study.

According to Montagnon, the findings indicate that Panama has preserved the genetic heritage of the variety over the years.

A second study focused on the sensory characteristics of Panamanian Geisha coffee and identified a distinctive note of white flowers or jasmine, described as particularly sweet and similar to the sensation of drinking jasmine tea.

Fabiana Carvalho, a flavor neuroscientist at the University of Campinas in Brazil, said the characteristic is highly valued in the international specialty coffee market.

“Coffees from Panama that have these sensory markers will be perceived, and already are perceived, as authentic. The final consumer, the coffee drinker, is willing to pay more,” said Carvalho, who led the study aimed at identifying the flavor markers that distinguish Panamanian coffee.

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The findings reinforce the reputation of Panama’s Geisha coffee as one of the world’s most distinctive and valuable specialty coffees.

Central America

Honduran Lawyer and Protected Witness in Angie Peña Case Shot Dead

Honduran lawyer and former judicial official Dereck McField was shot and killed on Monday morning, according to local media reports.

The attack took place in the street as McField was returning home after dropping off his young son at school, Honduran outlet HCH reported.

The killing sparked widespread concern after Honduras President Nasry Asfura later confirmed that McField was a protected witness in the case of Angie Peña, a Honduran university student who disappeared on January 1, 2022, while riding a jet ski on an island.

Authorities suspect Peña was trafficked to a criminal network for sexual exploitation. Her jet ski, life jacket and other belongings were found days later on a cay in Belize.

Four men — three Americans and one Honduran — have been charged in connection with the case and remain in pretrial detention as proceedings continue.

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At the start of the judicial process in 2024, authorities said they had evidence indicating that Harold Green allegedly sold Peña to William James Murdock for money. Prosecutors said the case included phone records, videos, photographs and witness testimony.

Search operations have been carried out since then in an effort to locate Peña, but she has not been found. Authorities have said they continue to hope that she is alive.

The three U.S. defendants live in Honduras and have tourism-related investments in Roatán.

McField’s killing raises new questions about the safety of witnesses involved in the high-profile case and comes as authorities continue investigating Peña’s disappearance.

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Central America

Guatemala Declares Highest Alert in Areas Affected by Fuego Volcano Eruption

Guatemalan authorities declared a red alert, the highest level of danger, on Tuesday in areas affected by the eruption of the Fuego Volcano, located about 35 kilometers from the country’s capital.

The most active volcano in Central America entered an eruptive phase on Monday morning, and its activity intensified overnight with lava emissions and large columns of gas and ash.

No fatalities have been reported, but the volcanic activity forced the evacuation of around 500 people as a precautionary measure.

The National Coordination for Disaster Reduction (Conred) declared a state of emergency in the departments of Sacatepéquez, Chimaltenango and Escuintla, the agency announced through its official X account.

The affected regions are home to approximately 1.6 million people. However, ashfall has so far impacted only about five municipalities.

Despite the increase in the alert level, authorities reopened a road leading to the city of Antigua, the country’s main tourist destination, after evaluating safety conditions in the area.

The Fuego Volcano is one of Guatemala’s most active geological formations and has a history of frequent eruptions, requiring continuous monitoring by national emergency agencies.