Navigating the Global Magnitsky Act within U.S.– Latin America Relations

Abstract

The Global Magnitsky Act constitutes an important sanctions regime in the U.S.–Latin America relations. Together with the U.S. State Department’s section 7031(c), recent years noticed Washington truly expanding its anticorruption efforts worldwide, especially in Latin America. When sanctions are not activated for the U.S. interests but prosecute corrupt public officials, these sanctions can also have a positive impact. This work delves into the cases of Guatemala and Paraguay, two U.S. allies with the Former Presidents Jimmy Morales and Horacio Cartes –respectively– under Global Magnitsky sanctions. In spite of sanctions’ legal and political limits, designations of Jimmy Morales and Horacio Cartes as significantly corrupted drove relevant changes in Guatemala and Paraguay. Nevertheless, these Latin American politicians may be able to perpetuate their presence in domestic politics. U.S. sanctions, initially reviewed through their legal frameworks, can partially help exclude corrupt politicians from high-ranking roles in Latin American politics.