The 19th of July 1954 marked the official formation of the National Committee of Defense Against Communism. President Carlos Castillo established this body at the specific request of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.
President Carlos Castillo created the National Committee of Defense Against Communism to implement policies aligned with Washington's anti-communist goals. The committee gained authority to convene its meetings in complete secrecy away from public scrutiny.
The National Committee of Defense Against Communism held the legal power to arrest individuals without any form of trial or defense. Suspects could be detained for periods reaching up to six months under these new rules.
By the 21st of November 1954, officials had compiled a list containing 72,000 names of people deemed communists. This massive roster represented thousands of Guatemalans targeted for detention or persecution.
Those labeled as communists could not own shortwave radios under the new regulations imposed by the Preventive Penal Law Against Communism. Public office eligibility vanished for anyone placed on the committee's blacklist regardless of local or national level.