I. Introduction: A Country Held Hostage by Violence
Guatemala is gripped by cartel violence and gang wars that have transformed daily life into a struggle for survival. Organised criminal groups control neighbourhoods, intimidate communities, and dictate the terms of existence for countless families. The state’s inability to curb the violence has left Guatemalans with little choice but to seek refuge abroad. For many, migration is the only path to escape an environment where danger lurks at every corner and safety is an unattainable dream.

II. The Dominance of Gangs and Cartels
Criminal organisations such as MS-13 and Barrio 18 exert near-total control over urban and rural areas alike. Cartels also use Guatemala as a major transit point for drug trafficking routes to the United States, intensifying competition and violence. These groups impose extortion, recruit youth by force, and terrorise communities, effectively replacing the state in many regions.

III. Extortion as a Way of Life
Extortion is one of the most pervasive crimes in Guatemala. Families, businesses, bus drivers, and even schools are forced to pay ‘protection money’ to gangs. Failure to comply often results in brutal reprisals, including murder. This constant financial and psychological pressure devastates livelihoods, driving families deeper into poverty and displacement.

IV. Recruitment and Control of Youth
Guatemalan youth are prime targets for forced recruitment by gangs. Young boys are coerced into joining criminal groups under threat of violence, while young girls are exploited sexually or forced into relationships with gang members. Families often see migration as the only way to save their children from a life dominated by violence and crime.

V. Violence Against Women
Women face alarming levels of violence in Guatemala, with femicide rates among the highest globally. Gang-related sexual violence is rampant, and women who resist exploitation or attempt to report crimes face deadly retaliation. This gendered violence is a major factor pushing women and families to flee in search of safety.

VI. Collusion and Corruption in the State
The Guatemalan state is weakened by corruption and collusion with criminal organisations. Police and local officials are often compromised, accepting bribes or directly cooperating with gangs. This corruption ensures impunity for perpetrators and leaves victims defenceless, reinforcing the cycle of violence and migration.

VII. Communities Living in Fear
Entire communities live under constant fear of violence. Daily life is dictated by gang-imposed rules, curfews, and restrictions. Even simple acts such as travelling to work or sending children to school are fraught with danger. The suffocating atmosphere of fear leaves many with no alternative but to abandon their homes.

VIII. Internal Displacement and Abandoned Villages
Before leaving the country, many Guatemalans experience internal displacement. Villages are abandoned after massacres or escalating gang violence. Those who remain often face severe economic hardship, lacking access to food, housing, and healthcare. Internal displacement serves as a prelude to international migration, as families eventually seek permanent refuge abroad.

IX. Dangerous Migration Routes
The journey north through Mexico is fraught with danger. Migrants fleeing violence in Guatemala face assaults, kidnappings, and exploitation by both cartels and corrupt officials along the way. Despite these risks, the desperation to escape gang control compels thousands to undertake the perilous journey each year.

X. Diaspora Networks and Support
Guatemalan diaspora communities, particularly in the United States, provide critical support for new arrivals. These networks offer shelter, financial assistance, and advocacy, helping migrants rebuild their lives in exile. Diaspora groups also amplify international awareness of the crisis, challenging narratives that frame migration solely in economic terms.

XI. International Recognition of Violence-Driven Migration
Human rights organisations have increasingly recognised that Guatemalans fleeing cartel and gang violence are victims of persecution. Asylum applications emphasise the inability of the Guatemalan state to provide protection, a crucial factor in securing refugee status abroad. However, many migrants continue to face barriers in having their claims recognised.

XII. Conclusion: Fleeing a Country at War with Itself
Cartel violence and gang wars in Guatemala have created conditions akin to a low-level civil war, where ordinary citizens are trapped between criminal domination and state failure. For countless Guatemalans, fleeing is not an act of choice but of survival. Until corruption is addressed and the rule of law restored, families will continue to risk their lives in search of safety abroad.