Why did Honduras issue an international warrant for Juan Orlando Hernández?
Honduras issued a new international arrest warrant for former president Juan Orlando Hernández because, according to the country’s Supreme Court, the pardon he received in the United States does not apply in Honduras.
Authorities argue that the decision made by Donald Trump has no legal effect on Honduran judicial processes, and therefore Hernández still faces charges under Honduran law. This is the central reason behind the new warrant.
The Supreme Court confirmed that the warrant was requested by the Public Ministry, which also asked Interpol to activate an international alert. Honduran authorities said they are obliged to continue their own proceedings, stressing that domestic cases remain open and active regardless of the outcome of Hernández’s case in the United States.
Hernández’s defence strongly rejects this position. His lawyers argue that the US presidential pardon should influence Honduras’s view of the case and reinforce their claim that the accusations against him were politically motivated. They accuse Honduran institutions of ignoring what they describe as an important judicial development abroad.
The arrest warrant adds another layer of complexity to an already turbulent legal saga. Hernández was extradited to the United States in 2022, convicted, and later pardoned by Trump, a decision that sparked intense debate inside Honduras. His case remains one of the most controversial in recent Central American political history.
For now, Honduran authorities insist that the country must follow its own legal framework, independent of decisions made overseas. The new warrant is meant to ensure that Hernández can face the pending cases against him, whether he remains abroad or returns to Honduras.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
