AGP Executive Report

Violence on the Coast: Gunmen carried out two separate attacks on Honduras’ northern coast, killing at least 16 people in the latest reports, including six police officers, with the deadliest strike at a plantation in Trujillo where workers were shot. Rural Land Conflict: The Trujillo area has long been tied to agrarian disputes and intimidation around land and environmental rights, a pattern that has repeatedly put defenders at risk. Targeted Police Attack: In Omoa, near the Guatemalan border, assailants opened fire on police tied to an anti-gang mission, killing six officers. Human Rights Context: The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has issued precautionary measures for threatened activists in the region, including after the 2024 killing of environmental leader Juan López—an investigation that recently saw arrests, offering rare movement amid widespread impunity. Other News: Coverage beyond the violence was thin in the past day, with most non-Honduras items unrelated to conservation.

Coastal Violence Escalates: Gunmen struck Honduras’ north coast in two separate attacks, killing at least 25 people, including six police officers—19 plantation workers were shot dead in Trujillo, while an ambush on police in Omoa left six officers dead, as authorities link the violence to the same militarized, land-and-resource conflict zone that has repeatedly targeted environmental defenders. Land Rights Under Pressure: The region has seen high-profile killings, including environmental leader Juan López in 2024, and authorities recently arrested three people tied to his death—one of the rare moments of justice amid widespread impunity. Ongoing Context: The week also carried other non-Honduras items, but the coast attacks dominated coverage, with death toll figures shifting as reports came in.

Regional Decision-Making: Central America’s integration push is hitting a key test: SICA foreign ministers just moved to speed up how regional bodies make decisions, aiming to close the gap between fast-moving cross-border problems and slow consensus. Human Trafficking Watch: Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Mexico’s Catholic Church is warning that the surge of visitors could raise risks of trafficking and sexual exploitation. Honduras Work & Investment: Horatio is expanding in San Pedro Sula, planning to hire about 1,000 people and build a “different kind” workplace with meals, transport, and wellness perks. Coffee Economy: Honduras coffee production is forecast to rise again, with 2026/27 output projected above 6 million 60-kilogram bags as farms improve management and nutrition. Migration Pressure: In the U.S., investigators are still sorting out the deaths of six migrants found in a freight car in Texas, with early indications pointing to overheating.

Dry-Corridor Crisis: A new WFP feature follows Salvadoran farmer José Cirilo Mendoza, pushed off his land by five straight years of drought, after he tried to cross into the U.S. and was sent back—highlighting how community gardens, soil work, watershed fixes, and water harvesting are meant to keep families farming where they live. Migration Pressure: The same drought-driven desperation echoes in the wider region as U.S. immigration enforcement and border deaths continue to dominate headlines, including reports of migrants dying from extreme heat inside a sealed freight car in Texas. Reef Protection Gap: A separate report warns many of the Caribbean’s most important reefs still go unprotected, even though reefs can blunt storm damage. Honduras Jobs & Growth: In Honduras, nearshore BPO firm Horatio is expanding in San Pedro Sula, aiming to hire about 1,000 workers with a “different kind of workplace.” Coffee Upswing: Honduras coffee production is forecast to rise again, with 2026/27 output projected above 6 million bags.

Immigration Pressure, Measured in Births: New CDC data are being used to argue that Trump-era immigration enforcement is “working,” pointing to a 1% drop in US births in 2025 and sharper declines among several immigrant groups—Hondurans included (down about 15% year-over-year in the report’s figures). Human Cost at the Border: The same week’s coverage keeps spotlighting deadly outcomes tied to US border crossings, including six migrants found dead inside a Texas train car, with early findings pointing to overheating. Honduras Economy Watch: On a more local note, Honduras coffee is forecast to keep climbing—production projected to reach about 6.03 million 60-kilo bags in 2026/27—while Jobs & Industry: Horatio expands in San Pedro Sula, aiming to hire around 1,000 people for a new contact-center campus. Climate Stress: Heat is also intensifying, with Honduras breaking its May temperature record again in mid-May.

Sustainability Spotlight: Aura Minerals released its 2025 Sustainability Report, highlighting safety and environmental steps—and pointing to Honduras work through its Sementes da Esperança project to turn formerly mined areas into high-value crops. Border Tragedy: In the U.S., police are still piecing together how six migrants (including three from Honduras) died inside a sealed freight car in Laredo, with a possible seventh body found nearby as investigators look at a smuggling-linked route. Honduras Jobs & Security Narrative: Nearshore BPO firm Horatio says it’s building a major San Pedro Sula campus to hire about 1,000 people, arguing the local reality is more nuanced than headlines. Climate Pressure: Reports say Honduras hit another record-breaking May heat spike, underscoring how extreme temperatures are tightening conditions for communities and ecosystems.

Immigration Fallout: A new Brookings study says more than 1.45 lakh U.S. children have been separated from parents detained under Trump’s immigration crackdown, with official counts likely missing the scale; researchers warn even short separations can be traumatic, and many cases involve parents from Mexico plus large shares from Guatemala and Honduras. Border Tragedy: In Texas, police are still probing the deaths of six migrants found inside a freight rail car in Laredo, with early findings pointing to overheating and a possible seventh body found nearby—an investigation tied to a broader smuggling case. Honduras Work & Investment: Nearshore BPO firm Horatio is expanding in San Pedro Sula, aiming to hire about 1,000 people with a “different kind of workplace” plan. Conservation Watch: Honduran authorities seized a live jaguar kept as a pet in Olancho, sending it to a rehab center and flagging wildlife trafficking risks. Climate Stress: Honduras again set record heat in May, with forecasts suggesting more extreme temperatures ahead.

Supreme Court TPS Showdown: Arguments in Trump v. Miot and Mullin v. Doe are now before the U.S. Supreme Court, after TPS terminations left more than a million people facing renewed uncertainty about work and deportation risk. Honduras Jobs & Business: Nearshore BPO provider Horatio is expanding in San Pedro Sula, aiming to hire about 1,000 workers and pitching a “different kind of workplace” with meals, transport, and wellness. Healthcare Investment: Horatio’s move follows other regional growth signals, including Horatio’s lab-planning talent pipeline via DesignGroup’s new Senior Lab Planner Christian Kyle Jordan Perry. Border Tragedy Update: In Texas, police are still working to explain the deaths of six migrants found inside a freight rail car near Laredo, with an arrest tied to a smuggling probe raising pressure for answers. Wildlife Enforcement: Honduras authorities seized a live jaguar kept as a pet in Olancho, a rare move aimed at deterring wildlife trafficking. Climate Stress: Honduras again hit extreme heat, breaking its May record in Choluteca.

Jobs & Investment: Nearshore BPO firm Horatio is expanding in Honduras, building a major contact-center campus in San Pedro Sula with plans to hire about 1,000 workers over the coming years—complete with free meals, transport, wellness programs, and “non-traditional” workplace perks aimed at improving retention. Cross-Border Logistics Tech: UCC Networks says it helped Multi-Encomiendas unify customer communications across multiple countries in Central America and Mexico, adding AI-powered support and better visibility for shipment inquiries. Conservation & Enforcement: Honduran authorities seized a live jaguar kept as a pet in Olancho, sending it to a rehabilitation center and highlighting how low fines can still make wildlife trafficking attractive. Climate Pressure: Record May heat hit Honduras again, with Choluteca topping 42.2°C, raising fears of more extreme temperatures ahead. Regional Context: The week also kept attention on migration risks after six people died in a Texas railcar, with early findings pointing to overheating.

Human Smuggling Tragedy: Police are digging into how six migrants—ages 14 to 56—died from extreme heat inside a sealed Union Pacific freight car found in Laredo, Texas, with a potential seventh body later reported nearby and an arrest linked to the smuggling probe. Honduras Justice & Environment: In Honduras, authorities arrested former Tocoa mayor Adán Fúnez over the 2024 assassination of environmental activist Juan Antonio López, a case tied to corruption fears around mining and protection of forests and waters. Wildlife Crackdown: Honduran officials seized a live jaguar kept as a pet in Olancho, sending it to rehabilitation after a raid sparked by trafficking tips. Climate Pressure: Record May heat hit Honduras again, with Choluteca topping 42.2°C, underscoring how dangerous conditions are worsening across the region. China-Taiwan Diplomacy: A new report highlights how Honduras’ 2023 shift from Taiwan to China is now colliding with tougher, more transactional demands for real economic results.

ICE Accountability: A mother deported from the U.S. is now blamed by ICE for her two-year-old son’s death months later, as advocates say she begged to be reunited while the child was allegedly abused and killed in Florida. Border Heat Tragedy: Investigators are still sorting the deaths of six people found in a sealed railcar near Laredo, with early results pointing to lethal heat exposure—another warning as the U.S.-Mexico border heads into its most dangerous season. Honduras Wildlife Crackdown: Honduran authorities seized a live jaguar kept as a pet in Olancho, a rare move since 2018, spotlighting how low fines can still make trafficking pay. Environmental Justice in Honduras: Three arrests—including former Tocoa mayor Adán Fúnez—follow accusations tied to the 2024 assassination of environmental activist Juan López. Climate Pressure: Record May heat hit Honduras again, underscoring how extreme temperatures are accelerating across the region.

Local School Supplies: Robinson Printing is selling high school graduation books, a small but timely boost for end-of-year families. Immigration Fallout: In the U.S., ICE is again under fire after blaming a deported mother for her son’s alleged murder months later, while separate reporting highlights deaths in detention centers and the deadly risks migrants face in extreme heat at the border. Border Tragedy: Investigators continue to sort out the deaths of six people found inside a sealed rail container near Laredo, with hyperthermia suspected and victims including a 14-year-old from Honduras. Conservation & Wildlife: Honduran authorities seized a live jaguar kept as a pet in the east, a rare move aimed at deterring wildlife trafficking. Justice for the Environment: Honduras also arrested a former mayor tied to the 2024 assassination of an environmental defender, keeping pressure on corruption and violence around resource projects. Climate Stress: Heat records keep falling in Honduras, with Choluteca again topping the country’s May temperature mark.

Border Tragedy Fallout: In Texas, investigators say six migrants found dead inside a sealed rail container near Laredo likely died from extreme heat, with a 14-year-old boy from Honduras among the victims—another grim reminder of how smuggling routes exploit freight systems and leave people trapped with no way out. ICE Scrutiny: Across the U.S., ICE is also facing fresh backlash after blaming a deported mother for her son’s alleged murder months later, while California reports a spike in detention deaths amid overcrowding. Honduras Conservation & Wildlife: In Honduras, authorities seized a live jaguar kept as a pet in Olancho, sending it to rehabilitation after a tip linked the case to illegal wildlife trade. Climate Pressure: Honduras continues to bake—Choluteca again shattered May heat records—raising concerns for health and ecosystems. Coffee & Land Stewardship: Lavazza launched a Rainforest Alliance regenerative coffee blend, with initial rollout focused on Honduras farms.

Wildlife Crackdown: Honduran authorities seized a live jaguar kept as a pet in Olancho, saying it was likely taken from the Mosquitia region and traded illegally—an effort conservationists hope deters other traffickers. Anti-Corruption Justice: In a separate case tied to environmental protection, Honduras arrested former Tocoa mayor Adán Fúnez over alleged masterminding of the 2024 assassination of anti-mining activist Juan López, a killing that drew international condemnation. Climate Pressure: Heat is still spiking—Honduras reportedly broke its all-time May temperature record again on 13 May in Choluteca, with more extreme readings expected. Coffee & Land Stewardship: Lavazza launched a Rainforest Alliance-certified regenerative coffee blend, with initial implementation focused on Honduras and more than 70 farms involved. Education for Resilience: UNICEF’s Tinkering With Tech and AI program is rolling out in northern Honduras, using tools like Micro:bit boards to boost STEM skills and responsible tech use.

Regenerative Coffee Push: Lavazza just launched “La Reserva de Tierra Selection,” its first professional coffee blend tied to Rainforest Alliance regenerative farming standards, with initial rollout focused on Honduras and more than 70 farms aiming to prove gains in soil health, biodiversity, water use, and farmer livelihoods through independent audits. Heat and Air Quality Alarm: Honduras is still in the grip of extreme weather—Choluteca hit 42.2°C on May 13—and Tegucigalpa is now facing “unhealthy” air from PM2.5 levels, raising respiratory and heart risks, especially for kids and other vulnerable groups. Wildlife Crime Spotlight: Honduran authorities seized a live jaguar kept as a pet in Olancho, a rare first seizure since 2018, underscoring how low fines can still fuel trafficking by the powerful. Justice for Environmental Defender: Separately, Honduras arrested former Tocoa mayor Adán Fúnez over the 2024 assassination of anti-mining activist Juan López, a case that has become a symbol of corruption and the dangers of protecting nature.

Wildlife Crackdown: Honduran authorities seized a live jaguar kept as a pet in Olancho, saying it was likely taken from the Mosquitia region and traded illegally—an unusually high-profile move meant to deter traffickers. Environmental Justice: In a case tied to the 2024 killing of environmental activist Juan Antonio López, Honduras arrested former Tocoa mayor Adán Fúnez and two others accused of masterminding the murder, spotlighting how mining fights can turn deadly. Public Health Alert: Tegucigalpa is under an “unhealthy” air-quality warning as PM2.5 levels hit harmful levels, with kids and other vulnerable groups most at risk. Regional Watch: A wider Latin America security push is underway—Brazil unveiled a major anti-crime plan—while Honduras remains in the spotlight for both corruption-linked violence and environmental enforcement.