Central America
European Union Removes Panama from High-Risk Money Laundering List
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Panama has been removed from the European Union’s list of high-risk countries for money laundering, a decision celebrated by officials in the Central American nation as a significant step toward restoring global trust and unlocking … Read more
Costa Rica’s Homicide Rate Declines in 2025, But Crime Still a Major Concern
Increasing crime is challenging Costa Rica’s long-standing reputation for peace and safety. Although homicide numbers are showing signs of improvement in 2025, the more profound challenges of organized crime and drug trafficking remain. As of June 30, 2025, Costa Rica’s … Read more
Thousands of Hondurans and Nicaraguans to Lose Legal U.S. Status as TPS Program Ends
SAN MIGUEL, El Salvador — Nearly 76,000 Hondurans and Nicaraguans living legally in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) could soon face deportation, following a decision by the Trump administration to end the decades-old safeguard. The Department of … Read more
Will a New US-Costa Rica Extradition Agreement Help Control the Country’s Drug & Violence Problem?
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica — A new extradition agreement between Costa Rica and the United States is raising hopes—and doubts—about its potential to blunt the rising tide of drug trafficking and organized crime in the region. While hailed as a … Read more
The nostalgia of migration amid a life stolen in pieces
When I was little, I never dreamed of traveling to big, faraway cities. Even when relatives told me what life was like in other countries, I was perfectly happy just escaping the stifling heat of the capital to spend an … Read more
World Bank: Crime Limits Central America’s Economic Growth—a Vicious Cycle
In Central America, crime not only takes lives—it suffocates economies. Violent and corrupt forces relentlessly drag back a region rich in culture and potential. The World Bank’s latest Latin America and Caribbean Economic Review (LACER) delivers a sobering reminder: organized … Read more
Central America Sees Spike in Cocaine Seizures in 2024 as Traffickers Shift Drug Routes
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — In 2024, Central America recorded unprecedented cocaine seizures; however, vast amounts of the drug continued to reach global consumer markets, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of Latin America’s trafficking networks. Despite multiton interdictions from Honduras … Read more