Guatemala Ends State of Emergency After One Month

Guatemala lifted its state of emergency on Monday, February 16, 2026, one month after it was declared by President Bernardo Arévalo.

The emergency was announced after 10 police officers were killed by suspected gang members. Following the attack, President Arévalo sought special powers to deal with rising gang violence and improve security in the country.

During the state of emergency, some constitutional rights were temporarily restricted. Authorities were allowed to take stronger action, including making arrests without a warrant issued by a judge. These measures were meant to help security forces respond quickly to threats.

Now that the emergency has been lifted, such powers will no longer be in place. The government has said that less strict security measures will take effect from Tuesday, February 17, 2026. However, President Arévalo has not yet explained in detail what these new measures will include.

The decision to end the state of emergency suggests that the government believes the immediate crisis has eased. At the same time, officials have indicated that efforts to fight gang violence and maintain public safety will continue under the new framework.