The United States Embassy in Guatemala has issued an urgent security alert to American citizens after a surge in gang violence, coordinated attacks on police and a nationwide state of emergency declared by Guatemalan authorities.

The warning, coming at the height of the dry-season travel period, urges U.S. nationals in the country to increase personal security measures, avoid high-risk areas and monitor rapidly evolving conditions on the ground.

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Embassy Issues Alert After Coordinated Attacks

The alert follows a wave of violence that escalated over the weekend of January 17 to 19, when suspected gang members linked to major criminal organizations carried out attacks on security forces and staged riots inside multiple prisons. At least eight Guatemalan police officers were killed in a series of ambushes believed to be retaliation for a government crackdown and prisoner transfers involving influential gang leaders.

Guatemalan officials reported that, just days earlier, gang-affiliated inmates had taken dozens of guards and staff hostage in prisons across the country in an effort to pressure authorities into restoring lost privileges and halting tighter controls. After security forces stormed one of the facilities and released hostages, gunmen launched coordinated attacks on patrols and police posts in and around Guatemala City and along key roadways.

In response, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City temporarily directed its own personnel to shelter in place during the most acute phase of the unrest, before shifting to stricter movement protocols and reinforcing its long-standing guidance on avoiding known hotspots of gang activity. The subsequent public alert to American citizens underscores the seriousness with which U.S. officials are treating the current spike in violence.

State of Emergency and Expanded Security Powers

On January 18, President Bernardo Arévalo announced a 30 day nationwide state of emergency, granting security forces expanded powers to respond to what his administration described as an extraordinary threat from prison based gangs and street level affiliates. The measure allows authorities to restrict public gatherings, impose curfews in targeted areas and carry out searches and arrests without warrants in cases tied to organized crime and terrorism.

The government has framed the emergency decree as essential to breaking the grip of gangs such as Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha (MS 13), which officials say helped orchestrate the prison unrest and the deadly ambushes on police. Both groups have long been active in Guatemala’s urban peripheries and transport corridors, and have been formally designated as terrorist organizations by Guatemalan authorities and the United States.

While officials insist that daily life for most residents and visitors can continue under the state of emergency, the legal shift provides security forces with broad discretion and has visibly altered the atmosphere in Guatemala City and several provincial towns. Heavily armed police and soldiers have been deployed to strategic intersections, highway checkpoints and near government buildings, while aerial patrols and raids on suspected safe houses have intensified.

Guatemala is one of Central America’s most visited destinations, drawing international travelers to colonial Antigua, the highland markets of Chichicastenango, Mayan archaeological sites like Tikal and the volcano-fringed shores of Lake Atitlán. The current unrest, however, has highlighted the deep security challenges that coexist with the country’s tourism appeal.

The U.S. State Department already classified Guatemala at Level 3 on its four tier advisory scale in late 2024, urging travelers to reconsider nonessential trips due to high levels of crime. Certain areas, including San Marcos and Huehuetenango departments, as well as Zone 18 in Guatemala City and the neighboring municipality of Villa Nueva, were singled out as Level 4 “Do Not Travel” zones because of entrenched gang control and chronic violence.

The latest attacks and the emergency declaration do not yet amount to a full halt of travel or blanket evacuation recommendation, but they reinforce official advice that visitors face elevated risks of robbery, carjacking, extortion schemes and, in some circumstances, being caught up in gang related violence not specifically aimed at foreigners. The Embassy’s alert stresses that even though tourists are not primary targets, opportunistic crime and exposure to nearby incidents remain serious concerns.

What the U.S. Embassy Is Telling American Citizens

In its message to U.S. citizens, the Embassy urges Americans in Guatemala to remain vigilant, review personal security plans and avoid areas where security operations or gang activity appear concentrated. Citizens are advised to limit movements during hours of darkness, refrain from traveling on intercity buses known locally as “chicken buses,” and exercise caution on major highways that have seen attacks on public transport and police vehicles.

U.S. officials are reminding travelers that government employees and their families are barred from traveling through several of the most dangerous zones, including San Marcos, Huehuetenango, Zone 18 and Villa Nueva, and that private citizens should strongly weigh the same restrictions. Embassy guidance typically reflects security assessments based on incident reporting, cooperation with Guatemalan authorities and intelligence on gang movements.

The alert reiterates the importance of enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, which allows the Embassy to send security messages directly to U.S. nationals by email or text. Enrolled travelers can receive updates about curfews, road closures, heightened military presence or disruptions to essential services, and they provide contact details that can assist in a rapid response if consular assistance is needed.

Ground Reality: Police Targets and Public Fear

The recent wave of violence has focused heavily on Guatemala’s police, a tactic analysts describe as an attempt by gangs to intimidate authorities and signal their capacity to retaliate against stricter prison regimes. Officers have been attacked at checkpoints, ambushed while on patrol and targeted near their homes or stations, often in broad daylight. Those killings have shaken public confidence and fueled both fear and anger in affected communities.

Local media have reported suspended classes at schools in some districts, cancellations of public events and lighter than usual traffic on Guatemala City’s arterial roads as residents weigh the risks of moving around during ongoing operations. The government has responded with official ceremonies honoring fallen officers and promises of reinforced support for policing and prison reforms.

For travelers, the immediate impact can include sudden roadblocks, rerouted traffic, temporary closures of public institutions and occasional shutdowns or delays in bus services. While tourist hotspots like Antigua and Atitlán may feel calmer than some urban neighborhoods, authorities and foreign governments are cautioning that violence in Guatemala can spill over unpredictably, and that distance from a known hotspot is not a guarantee of safety.

Advice from Foreign Governments and Risk Assessors

Other foreign governments have echoed U.S. concerns, advising their citizens to exercise a high degree of caution if visiting Guatemala and to carefully consider the necessity of travel to provinces bordering Mexico or areas with long standing gang presence. Official advisories emphasize that Guatemala’s rate of violent crime remains among the highest in Latin America, and that armed robberies, assaults and sexual violence affect both residents and visitors.

Travel risk consultancies and insurance providers are updating their assessments to reflect the state of emergency and the latest spike in attacks on security forces. Many note that while popular tourist corridors are not uniformly off limits, travelers may face higher premiums, stricter policy conditions or exclusions if traveling through or near areas labeled as Level 4 by the United States or identified as extreme risk zones by private security firms.

For tour operators and hotel owners, the advisories present both a reputational and operational challenge. Some are revising itineraries to avoid certain highways, shifting departure times to daylight hours only and increasing the use of private transport with vetted drivers. Others are enhancing coordination with Guatemala’s tourism assistance agencies and local police to provide escorts for groups perceived as higher profile targets.

Resources and Precautions for Visitors on the Ground

Despite the security concerns, Guatemala’s government continues to promote tourism and highlight programs designed to safeguard foreign visitors. The national tourism authority operates assistance services that can coordinate with specialized tourist police units in key destinations such as Antigua, Tikal, Lake Atitlán, Quetzaltenango and Puerto Barrios. These units are tasked with patrolling tourist zones, responding to incidents and helping to arrange safe transit in some circumstances.

Security officials recommend that visitors plan routes in advance, avoid displaying expensive cameras, jewelry or electronics and use hotel safes where available. Travelers are also urged to rely on reputable taxi companies or app based ride services in major cities, rather than hailing vehicles on the street, and to avoid withdrawing cash from outdoor ATMs, which have been common sites for theft and fraud.

Outside urban centers, the advice is to travel in groups when possible, particularly on rural roads and hiking trails, and to use certified guides for excursions near volcanoes or remote lakeside paths. Guests at lodges around Lake Atitlán, for example, are often encouraged to move between villages by prearranged private boats rather than walking or relying on informal launches after dark.

Balancing Travel Plans with a Fluid Security Situation

The U.S. Embassy’s alert arrives as many North American travelers finalize winter and spring plans that include Central America, raising questions about whether to postpone or reroute trips that include Guatemala. Travel experts emphasize that the decision depends heavily on individual risk tolerance, planned destinations within the country and the flexibility to adjust itineraries if conditions deteriorate.

For some travelers, shifting a trip toward lower risk areas, booking with companies that offer strong security protocols or combining Guatemala with neighboring destinations perceived as calmer may be an acceptable compromise. For others, especially those unfamiliar with the region or traveling with young children, the current mix of gang aggression, institutional strain and emergency legal powers may tip the balance toward deferring travel.

What remains clear is that the situation in Guatemala is fluid. The government’s confrontation with entrenched gangs is likely to continue well beyond the initial 30 day state of emergency, and so too will the potential for sudden escalations. For Americans contemplating travel or already on the ground, the message from the U.S. Embassy and security analysts is to stay informed, remain alert and be prepared to change plans quickly if the security environment worsens.