Impunity is a measure of the percent of crimes that are not prosecuted, either directly as a percentage or as an index

One of the factors affecting immigration is whether the rule of law exists. In cases of crime or threatened crime, will “going to the authorities” be effective?

In the scale above, the US was at an intermediate level (64.78 points) and not too different from Guatemala (62.40) or Honduras (65.04) or El Salvador (65.03). Some other countries are much lower, e.g. Sweden (39 points) or the Netherlands (45 points). I find that a bit surprising.

Guatemala had a UN anti-corruption commission that was established in 2006 as part of peace accords.

Lessons From Guatemala’s Commission Against Impunity

What other countries can learn from CICIG’s first decade.

Council on Foreign Relations

It was recently terminated

Guatemala kicks out UN anti-corruption commission

Guatemala notified the United Nations it was terminating a U.N.-backed anti-graft commission on Tuesday, months ahead of schedule, accusing the body of abuses of power, and prompting a swift rebuke from…

France 24

This will be unfortunate if the demise enables additional corruption or crime.

securitydistillery.com

Some discussion if it is reconciliation or letting war criminals go free.

Why War Criminals Could Walk Free in Guatemala

A get-out-of-jail-free card for war criminals would be a blow to Guatemala’s anti-impunity movement. Emma Theissen de Molina looked on helplessly as a

Americas Quarterly

At least one review suggesting this hasn’t helped in the most recent election.

Corruption triumphs in Guatemala’s presidential election

For their next president, Guatemalans must choose between two veteran politicians with shady pasts and alleged ties to organized crime.

The Conversation

Not sure of the best ways to improve the situation, but does seem like if we don’t understand root causes of immigration then a “build the wall” approach will be rather naive.