Engle List

In December 2020, the United States Congress passed the United States-Northern Triangle Enhanced Engagement Act — commonly known as the Engel List. This legislative provision aims to support the Northern Triangle countries — Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras — on issues such as economic development, combating corruption, drug trafficking, and similar matters.

The name “Engel List” derives from one of its main proponents, Eliot Lance Engel, former Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

To achieve this, the legislation is divided into two sections. The first requires the publication of a list of individuals who have committed acts of corruption or engaged in activities that undermine the development and integrity of the Northern Triangle countries. This list will be compiled by the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development and the heads of other relevant federal agencies. The second section aims to create a five-year action plan to help combat corruption, improve democratic systems, and enhance security in these countries.

List of Sanctioned Individuals

The sanctions established under this legislative provision result from acts of corruption related to public contracts, bribery, extortion, or facilitating transactions arising from such acts. The legislation indicates that not only high-ranking officials from Northern Triangle countries can be sanctioned, but also any private individual from these countries or nationals from third-party regions.

The legislation establishes three types of sanctions:

1. Asset freezes. This mandates that all transactions involving property and interests in property of a foreign individual be blocked “if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a U.S. person.”
2. Ineligibility for visas and entry into the United States. This includes being barred from accessing U.S. territory, holding a U.S. visa, or receiving parole or other benefits under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
3. Revocation of any current visas held by the sanctioned individual.

In 2024, the list was updated to include dozens of individuals, among whom are:

• Nercy Patricia Montano De Martinez, former mayor of Soyapango, involved in acts of corruption by negotiating contracts illegally, diverting public funds, and awarding municipal contracts to an individual without Municipal Council approval.
• Claudia Elizabeth Paniagua Pérez, magistrate of the Constitutional Court, involved in acts of corruption by accepting bribes in exchange for issuing favorable rulings from the Constitutional Court.
• Lourdes Pamela Blanco Luque, private attorney, undermined democratic processes or institutions by pressuring public officials in the exercise of their duties to achieve certain outcomes and using her connections with government authorities to traffic influence.

Action Plan

The actions to be undertaken are divided into four main pillars:

1. Actions to promote economic growth and development.
2. Actions to combat corruption.
3. Actions to strengthen democratic institutions.
4. Actions to improve security conditions.

In terms of economic matters, actions will focus on enhancing solutions aimed at eliminating barriers to inclusive economic growth, as well as setting objectives to address the underlying causes of poverty and inequality. Regarding the fight against corruption, efforts will be supported to strengthen national justice systems and public prosecutors’ offices to combat this scourge.

In relation to strengthening democratic institutions, funding plans will be structured for independent media outlets, and electoral institutions and processes will be reinforced to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections. Finally, regarding security, the plan aims to implement the State Department’s Central America Regional Security Initiative and support efforts to combat the illicit activities of criminal gangs and transnational criminal organizations.