Protocols Against Deported Gang Members in Honduras Explained

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The threat to deport criminals with ties to the Mara Salvatrucha gang from the US to Central America has been reiterated by various high-ranking politicians in President Donald Trump’s government, setting a ticking bomb in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Security forces in Honduras have responded by stressing that there are mechanisms working throughout the country to contain the threat, writes La Tribuna of Tegucigalpa.

There are already various procedures in place by the Honduran authorities to receive deportees from US, Mexico and Guatemala. María Andrea Matamoros, Vice Minister of Migratory Affairs, has stated that the situation will be a continuation of what has already been occurring rather than a considerable break with past policies.

Currently, deportees follow a process when returning to Honduras in which Interpol and the Honduran authorities share and check their background information, including any criminal convictions or outstanding warrants.

If the returnee is a gang member but has no crimes to their name, this information is given to investigation agencies throughout the country.

Recently, the Attorney General in Honduras launched Operation Avalanche I and II that aims to attack those who provide services to gangs and the Mara Salvatrucha, in particular. This Operation has so far focused on financial agents, police and prison guards.

This approach has had arguably more far-reaching effects than the US approach of going after leaders as the Mara Salvatrucha has an extraordinarily powerful criminal superstructure extending into drug trafficking, extortion, and money laundering.

In the last few months there have been various strategy talks between Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala about how to deal with the gangs. The fruit of these talks has been information sharing deals of which there are others with Mexico and the US.

The Government also has a migratory database with biometric data in all ports and borders where those who enter and leave the country are registered, which allows for the detection of any suspicious activity.

Following these deals and policy changes in the US, the numbers of deportees has fallen. Whereas there were 15 flights a week bringing back deportees in 2015 there are now around three a week.

Vice Minister Matamoros suggested that the reason that these numbers had fallen was actually schemes for the reinsertion of Hondurans, which reduce the numbers who attempt the journey north again.