New US law to establish list of corrupt CentAm officials

The US congress has passed legislation that establishes a list of corrupt persons in Central America's Northern Triangle in efforts to rein in corruption and illegal migration from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. 

Lawmakers passed the legislation together with a new COVID-19 relief package, an effort spearheaded by representative Eliot Engel (pictured). As chairman of the house committee on foreign affairs he has championed closer relations with Latin America and the Caribbean.

“My legislation will help the incoming Biden-Harris administration as it redoubles efforts to support a more secure, democratic and prosperous Central America,” Engel said in a statement. 

President Donald Trump was expected to sign the legislation into law in the coming days, but promulgation could be delayed as he voiced his dissatisfaction with the COVID-19 relief package on Tuesday evening.

Central American countries have resisted international anti-corruption efforts in the Northern Triangle. Guatemala’s former president Jimmy Morales expelled members of UN-backed anti-corruption task force CICIG, while questions linger over the legality of the 2017 electoral victory of Honduras’ President Juan Orlando Hernández. 

“It will be impossible to make sustained progress in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras without a commitment from regional leaders to combat corruption and democratic deterioration,” said Engel.

The legislation consists of two main components.

The first requires the publication of a list of corrupt and undemocratic actors from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras who will be denied entry into the US.

It also involves the creation of a five-year joint strategy between the state department and development agency USAID to advance prosperity, combat corruption, strengthen democratic governance and improve civilian security in the Northern Triangle and curb irregular migration.

The subregion received roughly US$314mn from the US in 2019. USAID reported US$157mn in aid to Guatemala, US$85.5mn to El Salvador, and US$70.8mn to Honduras.

To receive more aid the three countries must provide additional reporting and research into factors driving illegal migration.

Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras must submit the reports within 180 days, and once per year thereafter.

The governments will also be required to inform their citizens of the dangers of the journey to the US and show how they are fighting human and drug trafficking, and combat corruption, according to the legislative summary.