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Dear John,

On June 1, President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador was sworn in for an unconstitutional second five year term, in a ceremony attended by global leaders. Bukele has concentrated power around his persona by dismantling democratic institutions and maintaining control over information channels. His crackdown on gangs, despite human rights violations, has earned him an approval rating of 92%. 

The impact is regional. Leaders such as Daniel Noboa of Ecuador and Javier Milei of Argentina see him as a model. And others prefer not to criticize him out of fear it could tarnish their own popularity.

Bukele now wants to tackle corruption. My analysis this week asks what is behind this latest move and recommends specific measures for addressing concerns about the lack of transparency and access to information.

Also this week, regarding Guatemala, Members of Congress Delia Ramirez and Norma Torres sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the State Department to back the OAS observation of elections of Supreme Court and Court of Appeals magistrates, an initiative also supported by WOLA.

And finally, 50 organizations including WOLA signed on to a statement in solidarity with the Garifuna people of Honduras, who are threatened by extractivist and tourism industries. 

All this and more in this week’s WOLA Weekly.

Ana María Méndez Dardón

Director for Central America

"Defending human rights in this context is very complicated. At WOLA, what we do is to support civil society, and especially, the independent press, because they have been victims of direct attacks by Nayib Bukele's government, so we continue to strengthen civil society in its work of condemnation." This interview is in Spanish.

Ana María Méndez Dardón

Director for Central America

– Radio Con Vos, Ana Méndez D.: "Se redujo la violencia homicida en El Salvador, pero el costo ha sido la democracia"

“By creating such difficult-to-meet numerical thresholds, and very narrow exceptions, this new ‘asylum shutdown’ resembles the Trump Administration’s 2018 attempt to ban asylum access between ports of entry.” 

Adam Isacson

Director for Defense Oversight

– The New Yorker, What’s Behind Joe Biden’s Harsh New Executive Order on Immigration?

“People that want to cross the right way are being forced to wait in unsustainable conditions. [With the additional measures] that wait will be longer and the real question is how many people will then out of desperation try to cross undetected using more remote routes, putting themselves in the hands of often ruthless smuggling organizations."

Maureen Meyer

Vice President for Programs

– NPR, Would President Biden’s asylum restrictions work? It’s a short-term fix, analysts say

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