Dear John,
It’s been a difficult week for human rights and civil society organizations in Central America. Two weeks after U.S. foreign aid was frozen, the Trump administration is attempting to massively reduce USAID and fold it into the State Department. These decisions have already had direct consequences in Central America, especially for our partners of civil society organizations. While USAID’s legacy in the region is complicated, in recent years, it has funded critical programs throughout the region to provide humanitarian assistance, combat corruption, strengthen rule of law, and support civil society—efforts essential to addressing the root causes of migration. Shutting off this funding now doesn’t just undermine human rights; it threatens the very work that could help prevent forced displacement in the first place.
Meanwhile, Secretary Marco Rubio spent much of this past week in Central America on his inaugural trip as Secretary of State. He met with leaders in Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala, as well as the Dominican Republic, discussing issues like migration, drug trafficking, and security. Part of his agenda was to counteract China’s influence in the region, including the Trump administration’s interest in the Panama Canal.
As expected, migration was a priority topic of discussion, specifically the need for cooperation from Central American nations. Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo agreed to increase deportation flights by 40% and receive non-Guatemalan migrants for repatriation to their home countries. Even more alarming, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele offered his mega-prision to accept criminal migrants, including U.S. citizens convicted of crimes. Beyond the question of legality of this offer, it is especially worrisome given the widespread human rights violations being committed in El Salvador’s prisons under Bukele’s security model, which has fueled systemic abuse and the erosion of civil liberties.
At WOLA, we remain committed to supporting human rights, democracy, and civil society in the region. As part of our work in Central America, we will continue to press the U.S. government to maintain its individual sanctions on actors that are involved in corruption, grave human rights violations, and undermining democracy –a policy we have long supported to address corruption and promote accountability. Yesterday, we also published a statement with other international organizations calling on Guatemala to uphold justice on the transitional justice Molina Theissen case. In the face of historical and new challenges, our work continues.
Sincerely, |
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Ana María Méndez Dardón Director for Central America |
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For human rights activists across Latin America right now, the stakes are high. Violence around elections is on the rise, as are threats against those who speak in favor of justice and accountability.
Your support of WOLA creates space to amplify the voices of those who put their life on the line to champion human rights; from Caracas, to San Salvador, and everywhere in between. |
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| “Militarization of the border, deployment of military troops at the U.S.-Mexico border, has coincided with both highs and lows in arrivals to the United States, and certainly it has led to human rights violations against the migrant and asylum-seeking population.” Stephanie Brewer Director for Mexico
– MSNBC, Trump's deals with Canada and Mexico are mostly a sham
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