El Salvador’s government, in a move that seems ripped from a dystopian novel, has reportedly imposed restrictions on the use of certain words and concepts. This isn’t about outlawing the terms outright in everyday conversation, but rather, it is a new style manual for educational materials and official documents. The focus is to scrub “feminism,” “diversity,” and, perhaps most concerning, anything related to climate change. The stated reasons, as far as they have been made public, are couched in vague notions of cultural values and clarity. But let’s be honest, it raises a lot of eyebrows, to say the least.
The core of this directive appears to be a shift in educational language.… Continue reading
According to a recent intergovernmental report, El Salvador is experiencing the most rapid decline in democratic indicators within Latin America and the Caribbean. This deterioration is largely attributed to President Nayib Bukele’s policies, including a state of emergency that has led to arrests without court orders and a controversial move to allow indefinite reelection. The report highlights a sharp decline in freedoms, a weakening of the rule of law and judicial independence, and notes that El Salvador now has the world’s highest incarceration rate. The Bukele model, while popular, is associated with serious human rights concerns, including torture and abuse, and the country is now ranked with Afghanistan, Chad, Myanmar, and Tunisia.
Read More
In a move that has sparked controversy, the Legislative Assembly in El Salvador, controlled by President Nayib Bukele’s party, approved constitutional changes enabling indefinite presidential reelection and extending presidential terms to six years. The proposal also included the elimination of a second round of elections. This decision follows Bukele’s reelection last year despite a constitutional ban, raising concerns among observers about the consolidation of power. While supporters argue the changes align presidential terms with congressional elections, critics like Marcela Villatoro have condemned the move as a death knell for democracy, warning of increased corruption and weakened political participation.
Read More
Venezuelan makeup artist returns home, after spending four months in El Salvador’s CECOT prison, where he, along with other detainees, claims to have endured brutal treatment. The details that have emerged paint a grim picture of life inside the facility, including allegations of beatings, rubber projectile attacks, solitary confinement in dark cells, and the provision of spoiled food. Andry Hernandez, the makeup artist at the heart of this story, is now back in Venezuela, finally reunited with his loved ones after the ordeal. He, along with other detainees, was part of a prisoner exchange that saw them return to their home country last Friday.… Continue reading
In El Salvador, a growing exodus of journalists, activists, and human rights advocates is taking place due to the increasingly authoritarian government of President Nayib Bukele. This exodus is spurred by targeted harassment, threats, and the implementation of laws designed to silence dissent and criminalize criticism. The situation has worsened with the U.S. government’s collaboration with Bukele, who is seen as part of a global network of right-wing leaders employing similar tactics to consolidate power and suppress opposition, especially anyone critical of his administration. Facing no recourse in a system that has no guarantees of justice, these individuals are fleeing the country, hoping to continue their work from abroad while also advocating for the freedom of those who remain imprisoned.
Read More
Andry José Hernández Romero, a Venezuelan asylum seeker, was labeled a criminal and sent to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, a place known for inhumane conditions. Despite applying for asylum legally, his devotion to his family, expressed through tattoos, was used against him in what appears to be a propaganda campaign. After his disappearance, his family and legal team have had no contact with him for months and are unsure if he is still alive. Government officials refuse to confirm his whereabouts, highlighting the administration’s efforts to make seeking asylum a crime punishable by torture or even death.
Read More
The El Salvador government has directly contradicted the Trump administration’s stance on responsibility for deported migrants held in its prisons. While the Trump administration has claimed it has no power to bring back the deportees, El Salvador has stated that the U.S. holds the “legal responsibility” for the individuals. These statements were made in response to a U.N. inquiry concerning the disappearance of a relative within the Salvadoran prison system. The article also highlights that many of those deported, accused of gang affiliation, may have no connection to the gangs, raising questions about the legality and treatment of these individuals.
Read More
According to new court filings, the Salvadoran government informed United Nations investigators that the Trump administration retains control over a group of Venezuelan men deported from the U.S. to a controversial prison, directly contradicting prior public statements. Salvadoran authorities stated that the U.S. maintains “jurisdiction and legal responsibility” for the detainees, despite the deportations occurring after a judge’s order to halt the flights. Lawyers for the deportees are using this information to argue against the administration’s claim that they are no longer responsible for the men. The U.S. had previously paid El Salvador to detain the migrants under a controversial agreement, further complicating the legal battles surrounding the deportations.
Read More
New court documents reveal that Kilmar Ábrego García, wrongfully deported to El Salvador, endured severe physical and psychological torture during his three-month detention at the notorious Cecot prison. He was forced to kneel for extended periods, denied basic necessities, and held in overcrowded, windowless cells under constant bright lights. Despite prison officials acknowledging his lack of gang affiliation, they threatened his safety while also staging photos to appear as though conditions had improved. Ábrego García faces human-smuggling charges in the U.S., while legal battles continue over his potential deportation to a third country.
Read More
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, mistakenly deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration, detailed severe abuse in the country’s infamous CECOT prison in new court documents. He reported experiencing beatings, sleep deprivation, and psychological torture, including threats from officials. Despite a 2019 order barring his deportation due to potential gang persecution, the administration deported him, later attributing it to an “administrative error.” Abrego Garcia’s account of his ordeal, including witnessing violence and rapid weight loss, has been added to a lawsuit against the Trump administration.
Read More
Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker