Guatemala Authorities Raid Save the Children Charity's Offices After Reported Mistreatment of Migrant Children

Authorities in Guatemala raided the offices of the NGO known as Save the Children after a complaint that migrant children were being mistreated in the charity's many shelters in Texas. Soon after the complaint, a special investigation into the NGO was opened by Guatemalan authorities.

"The Public Prosecutor received a complaint referencing and highlighting incidents regarding Guatemalan children and teenagers being subject to vulnerabilities in shelters in Texas, connected with a network which [involves] NGOs that operate in the United States and Guatemala," Juan Luis Pantaleon. a spokesperson for the Public Prosecutor's Office, said in a statement.

The raid was done only to gather information for the investigation, including document searches and seizures, added the Guatemala Public Prosecutor's Office on social media. It all revolved around the complaint filed in Guatemala regarding the UK-based aid organization.

Rafael Curruchiche, a Guatemalan prosecutor whom the United States has previously sanctioned for aiding in corruption, claimed that the case is "transnational and of great transcendence," involving several organizations, according to CNN.

Guatemala Prosecutors Trying To Work With Texas Over Save the Children Abuse Allegations

Texas is now aware of the issue as the secretary general of Guatemala's Public Ministry, Angel Pineda, has already written a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton regarding the reported abuse of migrant children in the shelters being run by Save the Children.

According to MSN, the Guatemalan prosecutors are now asking the Texas state government for its support in addressing allegations that Save the Children and several other aid organizations "could be participating in child trafficking operations."

The request comes as Guatemala has become a source where migrants are coming from, as well as serving as a major transit country for migrants seeking to come to the US-Mexico border. The reported migrant children who were abused while staying in shelters run by the aid organization are from Guatemala.

Save the Children Issues Statements Regarding Raid by Guatemala Authorities

Meanwhile, Save the Children itself has issued a statement after the allegations surfaced and Guatemalan officials raided its offices in Guatemala City, including its main headquarters in the country.

"We have been shocked and puzzled by the unprecedented search of our offices by the Public Prosecutor's Office in Guatemala," the UK-based NGO said in a press release, adding that it was not aware of any specific accusations against it.

"We defend the rights of children and adolescents and ensure that they survive, learn and are protected from harm in more than 100 countries around the world," the group added.

The Associated Press reported that the controversy began after Fox News contributor Sara Carter published a video of Peneda stating that he had received a complaint not just against Save the Children but also against other NGOs. The Fox News host was also the first to report about the raid in the US.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Guatemala prosecutors raid offices of Save the Children charity - Associated Press