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Kristi Noem will hold meetings with presidents Jose Mulino, Rodrigo Chaves, Xiomara Castro, and Bernardo Arevalo. On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem began a three-day trip through Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala.

Her visit starts in Panama, where she will hold bilateral meetings with President Jose Mulino, Minister of Public Security Frank Abrego and Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha. While in Panama, Noem will also observe a repatriation flight and visit the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Escanaba. On Wednesday, she will travel to Costa Rica and Honduras.

In Costa Rica, the secretary will meet with President Rodrigo Chaves, visit the Los Lagos detention center and meet with representatives of the joint border security program. In Honduras, Noem is scheduled to speak with President Xiomara Castro and Foreign Minister Enrique Reina, and visit Soto Cano Air Base to inspect operations under the repatriation program.

The trip will conclude in Guatemala on Thursday, where she will meet with President Bernardo Arevalo and Minister of the Interior Francisco Jimenez. In the Central American country, the secretary will also review DHS joint programs at La Aurora International Airport.

Since 2024, the Colombian Army has attempted to retake control of El Plateado, the main stronghold of the Carlos Patiño group. On Monday, Colombian authorities rescued military personnel who had been held by communities allegedly coerced by a FARC dissident group in the Micay Canyon region of Cauca department.

“The 57 soldiers were rescued in an operation coordinated by Army and Police troops. More than 20 people have been captured in the act for kidnapping,” said Interior Minister Armando Benedetti.

The Army’s Third Division added that troop pressure led to “the capture in the act of the alleged kidnappers,” though no further details about the incident were provided.

“The constitutional order, governance, and legitimacy must be protected to uphold the rule of law and ensure social investment reaches the people of Micay Canyon,” Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez stated.

On Sunday, Colombian authorities confirmed that military members had been “deprived of their liberty” in the Micay Canyon area. The first incident occurred Saturday in a rural zone of El Tambo municipality, where troops were ambushed and four were detained by civilians.

Later, on Sunday afternoon, “during a movement toward the urban area of El Plateado district, another group of soldiers was intercepted and surrounded by approximately 200 people who were allegedly pressured by the residual organized armed group Carlos Patiño,” a faction of the Central General Staff (EMC), the largest FARC dissident group.

As a result, the defense and interior ministers, along with military and police leadership, traveled to Popayan, the capital of Cauca, to oversee an emergency security meeting and assess progress in freeing the troops.

In October 2024, the Colombian Army launched “Operation Perseus,” deploying over 1,000 soldiers to retake control of El Plateado, the main stronghold of the Carlos Patiño group. However, the military operation has not achieved the expected results, and dissidents continue to control the area.

In March, 28 police officers and one soldier were kidnapped in El Plateado while helping repel an attack by local residents against the Army. The assailants also set fire to two official vehicles. They were released two days after being detained, with the minister attributing the incident to the Carlos Patiño group.