MS-13, Barrio 18 and Anti-Gang Law 11-2025

MS-13 was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and SDGT by the United States in February 2025, alongside six Mexican cartels and Tren de Aragua — the only Central American group cited in the OSAC Crime and Safety Report of 15 May 2025. Barrio 18 was designated FTO/SDGT by the State Department on 23 Sep 2025 (date corroborated in UPI and the Federal Register). Guatemala declared both organizations terrorist through Decree 11-2025 ("Act for the direct combat of criminal groups… known as maras or gangs"), passed by Congress on 21 Oct 2025, published in the official gazette (Diario de Centro América) on 10 Nov 2025 and in force from 11 Nov 2025; the Supreme Court (CSJ) may extend the list at the MP's request (art. 2), and the law allocated Q200 million to tactical equipment according to Prensa Libre.

The research is written in English; quoted figures, source names and the titles of legal instruments stay in the language their source published them in.