U.S. Department
of Justice
Western Hemisphere Region
OPDAT’s Western Hemisphere Programs (WHP) provide capacity building and technical assistance to foreign prosecutors, judges, and investigators throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, most often through the deployment of experienced Resident Legal Advisors (RLAs). Currently, there are 11 RLAs in country, two International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Advisors (ICHIPs). positions in the region. OPDAT’s WHP programs, funded by the U.S. Department of State, are focused on a variety of subject matters, but the work in the region places a large emphasis on helping countries transition to the accusatory system and providing case-based mentoring in relation to complex investigations involving transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), money laundering corruption, drug trafficking, gang crimes. Throughout WHP, OPDAT supports DOJ’s Joint Task Force Alpha (“JTFA”) by providing case-based mentoring to counterparts on human smuggling/trafficking cases and also supports DOJ’s Anti-Corruption Task Force on its efforts in the Northern Triangle.
WHP Programs
Colombia: The Colombia program was initiated in 2001 as a U.S. law enforcement umbrella assistance program under Plan Colombia and was implemented jointly by OPDAT, ICITAP, and the U.S. Marshals Service. OPDAT’s signature project was the effective implementation of a new criminal procedure code enacted in 2005 and building the capacity of all parties to work under the new adversarial criminal justice system. Other programs included the establishment of victim assistance centers, an extensive witness protection and court security program; and developing and mentoring a specialized national unit for organized crime. OPDAT has spearheaded the creation of specialized working groups, in conjunction with the AGO, to provide case-based mentoring and specialized training to prosecutors who investigate and prosecute key transnational organized crime cases, corruption, money laundering and drug trafficking among others. As a supplement to these working groups, OPDAT has developed an intensive, one-week beginner and advanced trial skills courses for these prosecutors.
Recently, OPDAT expanded its program into selected rural areas significantly affected by criminal activity threatening their progress and citizen security. OPDAT has created a Rural Justice Working Group which is already yielding results, including arrests and convictions of members of various subgroups of Clan del Golfo. The working group has increased the capacity of local, regional, and national prosecutors to collaborate effectively in disrupting rural drug trafficking corridors, criminal organizations, and other criminal activity (i.e. gender based violence, homicides, corruption and human smuggling) in targeted municipalities and surrounding areas. Additionally, OPDAT has developed bench books and guides which have been implemented by the Colombian judiciary and prosecutors to streamline hearings and processes for a more efficient judicial system. These guides are being shared and modified by countries within the region.
El Salvador: OPDAT's El Salvador program was established in 2011 with the goal to provide technical assistance and case-based mentorship in relation to combatting transnational and domestic organized crime, money laundering, asset forfeiture, human smuggling/trafficking, and anti-corruption efforts. OPDAT also works with the judiciary to build capacity to efficiently manage oral hearings, develop a bench book for judicial personnel, and implement training standards and compliance measures.
Guatemala: OPDAT deployed its first RLA in 2016. Our work focuses on providing technical assistance and case mentoring in relation to money laundering, and anti-corruption efforts, OPDAT also provides technical assistance and mentorship to combat human smuggling. OPDAT has also coordinated with JTFA’s regional investigative efforts with the Northern Triangle, Mexico, and the United States.
Honduras: The OPDAT Honduras program deployed its first RLA in 2013 to focus on improving the capacity of justice sector actors to combat transnational and domestic crimes such as organized crime, including corruption, gang crime, narcotrafficking, human smuggling and money laundering. The program has helped establish a Specialized Technical Advisory Group (GATE, acronym in Spanish) which is an OPDAT led anti-corruption task force and provides technical assistance and case-based mentoring to prosecutors and investigators handling these cases. OPDAT has also assisted in the creation of a Migration Task Force with the goal of coordinating strategies and providing best practices to combat human smuggling and trafficking cases in the region.
Mexico: OPDAT’s Mexico program is significant in both strategic importance and size. Since its inception in 2017, The Mexico RLA program provides technical assistance and case-based mentoring to our counterparts in the areas of transnational organized crimes focusing on combatting narcotics and synthetic drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, human smuggling and trafficking in persons. The program partners with the Judiciary to create judicial bench books, which provide step-by-step guidance for judges and magistrates at the federal and state level to carry out criminal hearings effectively and efficiently within the accusatory system. The Mexican judiciary’s widespread adoption of the bench books is showing demonstrable institutional impact in improving efficiency of court processes.
Panama Counterterrorism and Money Laundering: In 2014, OPDAT established the Panama program with a focus on implementing and supporting programs aimed at strengthening efforts against counterterrorism, money laundering and financing of terrorism (AML-CFT), improving the capacity of Panamanian criminal justice actors to detect, investigate and prosecute terrorism and related criminal activity, as well as complex financial and organized crimes. This program will close in September 2024.
Argentina Counterterrorism Program: OPDAT deployed a CT funded RLA to Argentina in 2017 focused on supporting counterterrorism efforts in the Tri-Border Area. The program has since transitioned to focusing primarily on Argentina and seeks to strengthen the capacity of Argentina to identify, investigate, prosecute, and disrupt terrorism, terrorist financing, money laundering, and the predicate crimes which produce illicit funds. The RLA focuses on updating Argentina’s legal and regulatory framework; provides case-based mentoring to judges, prosecutors and police; provides skills-based training to judges, prosecutors, and police; working with relevant authorities to better cooperate and share information with counterparts. These efforts include working with relevant justice sector actors in the Tri-Border Area (where Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil share borders) and with the United States in cases of terrorism, terrorist financing, money laundering and other complex crimes; and assist the respective posts to advance their justice sector reform programs and overall missions.
Paraguay Counterterrorism Program: OPDAT’s AML-CT work in Paraguay began in 2015 with an ILA. In September 2018, the program expanded and OPDAT deployed its first RLA to support counter-terrorism efforts in Paraguay and the Tri-Border Area (TBA). The RLA coordinates and provides technical assistance to counter terrorist financing and provides case-based mentoring to build capacity to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate terrorist and terrorist financing cases and seize assets from these crimes.
Brazil Counterterrorism Program: OPDAT deployed its first ILA in January 2020 to support counterterrorism efforts in Brazil. The ILA program focused on providing technical assistance and working with Brazilian prosecutors and investigators to combat terrorist financing and help freeze assets related to terrorist financing and assists Brazil in developing designations of terrorist groups. In 2021, the Brazil program expanded and in 2022 was able to deploy an RLA who focused on these issues. In 2023 the program shifted to a collaboration with HSI who will develop a task force model in the Guarulhos Airport to focus on combatting terrorism and building capacity to identify Known Suspected Terrorists (KSTs).
Judicial Studies Institute: The Judicial Studies Institute (JSI) was inaugurated in Puerto Rico in April 2012 as a result of the efforts of the Honorable Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and a unique collaboration between the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of State, members of the U.S. and Puerto Rico judiciaries, and the University of Puerto Rico and Interamerican University law schools. Its mission is to strengthen the capacity of judges from Latin American countries making the transition to an adversarial criminal justice system. JSI leverages Puerto Rico’s use of the adversarial system, coupled with a shared language and culture, to offer Latin American judges a full immersion in the adversarial system that includes academic classes, courtroom visits and practical exercises. JSI has a progressive curriculum consisting of Module I, Module II, and Special Courses. Since 2012, JSI has trained 1,196 judges in the Module I course (introductory), 835 judges in the Module II course (intermediate), 664 judges in the advanced courses (Opinion Writing, Digital Evidence, Asset Forfeiture, Courtroom Management, Trafficking in Persons/Human Smuggling, and Judging Without Gender Bias), and 1,371 judges in special virtual courses and roundtables.
RECENT PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES
Mexico: OPDAT Continues Close Collaboration with Mexican Partners to Counter Fentanyl Trafficking (5/15/24)
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor Addresses Latin American Judges at Justice Department’s Judicial Studies Institute (English version); U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor Addresses Latin American Judges at Justice Department’s Judicial Studies Institute (Español version)
Readout of Justice Department Leadership Meeting on Human Smuggling and Trafficking Networks