The Executive, through Government Decree 6-2026, expands the state of prevention in five of the seven departments that were under this measure.
The state of prevention continues in the departments of Guatemala, Escuintla, Izabal, San Marcos and Huehuetenango. The measure was not expanded in Petén or Sacatepéquez.
So far in 2026, the Government has maintained this measure as a continuation of state actions to prevent and repress attacks against State security forces and public order, including armed attacks against civil authorities by maras or gangs.
Just last January, the Government declared a state of siege for a month, after riots in three prisons and attacks against agents of the National Civil Police by gang members. Then it opted for the state of prevention, which in its expansions has focused on certain departments.
According to the decree, this measure allows us to have a legal framework to continue with coordinated actions of the State security forces in the aforementioned departments.
The current state of prevention will govern for 15 days starting April 21, after the publication of the decree in the Diario de Centro América.
Measures during the state of prevention
- Limit the holding of outdoor meetings, public demonstrations or other spectacles and, where appropriate, prevent them from taking place
- Dissolve by force, without the need for any summons, any group, meeting or public demonstration in which weapons are used or acts of violence are resorted to.
- Prohibit the circulation or parking of vehicles in certain places, areas and times, prevent them from leaving certain towns or subject them to registration
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