In November 2022, an FBI informant, identified as John Doe, sought refuge in the U.S. after agreeing to testify against MS-13 members in Massachusetts. Despite assurances, he was arrested in El Salvador, imprisoned, and allegedly tortured before being released to the FBI. However, the U.S. government has since revealed his identity, and is now attempting to deport him, despite claims that he faces a death sentence if returned to El Salvador. An immigration judge has temporarily blocked his removal, and the case is ongoing, raising questions about the government’s commitment to protecting informants.
Read More
President Trump, despite campaigning on a platform of law and order and prosecuting undocumented migrants, is reportedly considering dropping charges against leaders of the MS-13 gang, a move seemingly connected to strengthening his relationship with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. This potential decision would undermine the work of “Vulcan,” a task force specifically designed to combat MS-13, which resulted in the capture of several gang leaders. The U.S. Attorney’s office has already requested to drop charges against two MS-13 leaders, citing “geopolitical” and “national security” considerations. Experts suggest these actions are a quid pro quo, potentially protecting Bukele from revelations about his alleged power-sharing deals with organized criminal groups.
Read More
A ProPublica investigation, based on a U.S. government inquiry, alleges that Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s administration made a secret pact with MS-13 gang leaders. This deal allegedly involved blocking extraditions of gang leaders, persecuting law enforcement officials, and potentially diverting U.S. aid funds to the gang in exchange for political support and reduced homicide rates. The investigation implicated Bukele and other senior officials in money laundering related to these activities. This alleged deal follows a history of similar, though smaller-scale, pacts between Salvadoran governments and gangs, highlighting a complex relationship between the two.
Read More
Prominent El Salvadoran human rights lawyer Ruth Eleonora Lopez, a vocal critic of President Nayib Bukele and advocate for deported Venezuelan migrants, was arrested on Sunday. Authorities allege embezzlement from a decade prior, a charge rejected by Cristosal, the human rights group where Lopez works. Her arrest, condemned by Amnesty International and other groups, is viewed as a manifestation of increasing authoritarianism under Bukele’s administration. The refusal to disclose Lopez’s location or allow legal access further fuels concerns about due process violations.
Read More
Rep. Matt Gaetz, during a July 2024 visit to El Salvador’s notorious mega-prison, CECOT, proposed using the facility to house migrants to Stephen Miller, a top Trump advisor. This suggestion, subsequently relayed to Trump, involved a deal brokered by the State Department with El Salvador’s President Bukele, despite human rights concerns surrounding CECOT. Trump expressed support for the plan, even suggesting the imprisonment of U.S. citizens in CECOT. The plan’s implementation has already resulted in the deportation of individuals to the prison, prompting legal challenges and sparking outrage.
Read More
Following a government-mandated week of free bus rides in El Salvador due to highway construction, President Nayib Bukele ordered the arrest of five bus company heads for allegedly defying the order. The arrests, for charges including “breach of duty,” followed widespread chaos and overcrowded buses, despite the government claiming to cover all lost revenue. The bus companies cited confusion over the sudden announcement and payment issues for daily-wage drivers. These actions are consistent with Bukele’s controversial, heavy-handed governance style, which has drawn international criticism.
Read More
Carlos Cartagena López, a prominent El Salvador gang leader, gave an interview detailing his gang’s secret pact with President Nayib Bukele, revealing how they allegedly helped Bukele rise to power in exchange for favors. This pact, involving warnings of police operations and community projects, allegedly included gang intimidation of political opponents to secure Bukele’s electoral victories. López’s release from prison, despite accusations of homicide and extortion, further underscores the clandestine nature of this relationship. The revelation comes amidst a brutal government crackdown resulting in tens of thousands of arrests under inhumane conditions and hundreds of deaths, highlighting the ongoing consequences of this political alliance. The interview adds crucial details to existing evidence of Bukele’s dealings with gangs, underscoring the urgent need for further investigation into this complex situation.
Read More
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) jeopardized the safety of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s family by publicly posting his wife’s address on X, forcing them into a safe house. This action followed the administration’s controversial deportation of Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, despite prior court orders blocking his removal. The DHS justified the deportation using unsubstantiated allegations of criminality, claims disputed by his wife, who described the incident leading to a protective order as isolated and attributed to stress. Democratic officials and advocates criticize the process as a denial of due process.
Read More
Four House Democrats traveled to El Salvador to demand the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen wrongfully deported by the Trump administration despite a Supreme Court order for his return. The Democrats aim to pressure the White House to comply with the court ruling, which was further supported by a recent federal court decision rejecting the administration’s appeal. Abrego Garcia’s deportation stemmed from what the administration called an “administrative error,” despite an immigration judge’s ruling against deportation due to potential persecution. The trip is privately funded after Republican committee chairs rejected funding requests.
Read More
El Salvador’s President Bukele proposed a prisoner exchange with Venezuela: 252 Venezuelan deportees held in El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center would be repatriated in exchange for the release of an equal number of Venezuelan political prisoners. This offer, made via social media, includes nearly 50 prisoners of other nationalities. The proposal follows recent mass deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members from the US to El Salvador under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a move condemned by Maduro as human rights abuse. Venezuela’s chief prosecutor criticized the offer, questioning the legal processes afforded the deportees.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker