During the Summit of the Americas last week, U.S. President Biden hosted leaders from across Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada to discuss priorities in the hemisphere. One outcome to emerge is the Los Angeles Declaration, a four-part agreement aimed at curbing undocumented immigration and addressing the root causes of migration. 

The World Justice Project’s new Rule of Law Reports on Central America provide unique insights into everyday people’s views on the rule of law in their country, including experiences with and perceptions of migration, government accountability, fundamental freedoms, policing, criminal justice, security and gender. Below is a sampling of our findings.  

49% of Hondurans Would Like to Migrate 

Nearly half of Hondurans would like to leave the country, and 18% have active plans to do so. 

19% of Guatemalans Were a Victim of a Crime 

Nearly 1 out of 5 people living in the Northern Triangle was the victim of a crime last year.  

In Guatemala, less than half of victims reported the crime. 

67% of Panamanians Believe National Legislators Are Corrupt

People across Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Belize, and El Salvador believe that the National Assembly is the most corrupt part of their country’s government.  

In Panama, 67% of respondents agreed. 

The World Justice Project in the Media 

Border Report: Survey: 49% of Hondurans and 39% in El Salvador considering migrating 

Chief Engagement Officer Ted Piccone talks about the push factors driving migration and our Central America reports. 

WNCT 9: U.S. is asked to sanction Guatemala over alleged human rights violations, corruption 

During the Summit of the Americas, the grassroots group Iniciativa Causas Raíz (Root Causes Initiative) sent a letter to the White House requesting sanctions against Guatemalan officials. The article references the World Justice Project’s new report on rule of law in Guatemala, noting the high level of crime victimization and that 9% of Guatemala’s current population has previously tried to migrate to the U.S.