Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Border Security topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Guatemala, U.S. announce joint airport security program to begin at La Aurora
Summary
Guatemala’s interior minister said a memorandum will implement a joint security program at La Aurora International Airport, assigning U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to work with Guatemalan police and ministry specialists while pledging to respect human rights and data confidentiality.
Guatemala and the United States announced a memorandum to implement a joint security program that will begin at La Aurora International Airport, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working in coordination with Guatemala’s civil police and specialized personnel of the Ministry of the Interior, Francisco Jimenez, Guatemala’s minister of the interior, said.
The memorandum aims to “improve controls in our borders” and to “combat the illegal trafficking networks and transnational threats,” Jimenez said, adding that technical cooperation and shared best practices will be used “for the identification, control, and introduction of threats.”
Why it matters: The agreement is described by Guatemala’s government as a step to strengthen operational, logistical and human capabilities for faster detection of individuals linked to criminal and terrorist organizations and to prevent the entry and exit of contraband and illegal substances. Jimenez said the program will be governed by principles that respect national sovereignty and protect exchanged information.
Details: “In Guatemala, implementation of the joint security program will start in the international La Aurora Airport,” Jimenez said. “We shall assign officers of the US customs and border Agency that will work work in coordination with our civil police and specialized personnel of the Ministry of Interior.” He said Guatemala’s Ministry of the Interior will be responsible for internal coordination, will designate qualified technical personnel, provide adequate spaces, and ensure a safe and confidential flow of information.
Jimenez also emphasized safeguards in the agreement, saying the program will operate “in full respect of human rights, and in accordance with, local laws and international laws” and that exchanges of information “shall be protected, thereby ensuring confidentiality and responsible use of data.” He called the memorandum an expression of “shared responsibility in the fight in favor of security.”
The statement closed with the minister thanking technical teams and officials from both governments and reiterating a commitment to implement the program “with efficiency, transparency, and strategic vision.”
