Dear John,
This week, I testified before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, where we discussed the future of the State Department’s counter-drug and law enforcement programs. The Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is the largest single source of aid to Latin America’s security forces.
In my testimony, I emphasized the importance of the “L” part of INL, which is responsible for strengthening the rule of law and improving judicial systems in Latin America. WOLA does not support an INL that narrowly focuses on crime and security like the programs of the 1980s, which prioritized “drugs and thugs.” Through my years of monitoring U.S. defense spending through INL-heavy packages like “Plan Colombia,” I have documented the failure of hard-line security policies that repeatedly proved unable to deliver lasting security and stability. Instead, comprehensive collaboration, which incorporates human rights, justice, and community-led efforts, is essential.
At WOLA, we are deeply committed to being a purveyor of truth—ensuring that policymakers on both sides of the aisle have access to accurate information and informed analysis. It is in this role that we engage in these testimonies, making sure that our voices are heard in Washington and beyond.
As part of this mission, we also see the need to engage with the media as much as possible. In the last two weeks, I have done dozens of interviews with major news outlets, including one last week with USA Today and another this week with the Washington Post about the conditions within Salvadoran prisons.
WOLA is doubling down on its commitment to push back against misinformation and continue advocating for what is right. We are steadfast in our work to make sure that truth prevails and that human rights are recognized.
As always, I continue to bring you the latest developments with WOLA’s weekly border update.
Thank you for your continued support of WOLA’s mission.
