Dear John,

The Venezuela Program at WOLA has been hard at work in recent weeks. As authoritarian-style tactics gain ground across the hemisphere, our team remains focused on exposing abuses, defending human rights, and holding power to account.

In the face of these growing challenges, WOLA remains steadfast in our mission: defending human rights and documenting the truth. This past week, we published an article analyzing President Nayib Bukele’s recent offer to exchange 252 Venezuelan migrants deported from the U.S.—sent to his maximum-security mega prison, CECOT—for 252 political prisoners in Venezuela. Although in other contexts negotiations that lead to the release of innocent people are laudable, in this case we explain, from a human rights perspective, how problematic the idea is and its implications.

That’s why truth-telling is more essential than ever. Authoritarian leaders thrive on misinformation, performative politics, and social media manipulation. At WOLA, we remain committed to countering these tactics with clear, accurate, and principled analysis. Next week, we’ll continue this effort with a virtual expert webinar exploring the economic and political implications of recent U.S. actions toward Venezuela—including the revocation of oil licenses and the imposition of a 25 percent tariff on all goods imported into the United States from any country that imports Venezuelan oil, whether directly from Venezuela or indirectly through third parties. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 30 from 4:30 to 5:30 PM EDT and will feature leading experts in energy policy and political economy: Drs. Luisa Palacios, Francisco Monaldi and Antulio Rosales. The webinar will be conducted in English, with live interpretation available in Spanish. You can register here.

Despite the concerning developments we’re seeing, I remain optimistic because of the continued support from people like you, who are committed to democracy, human dignity, and justice. Thank you for standing with us.

Sincerely,

Laura Dib

Director for Venezuela

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.

“Without knowing their identity, it is difficult to verify whether they really have a criminal record. That's why eight US congressmen sent a letter to Secretary of State Rubio in the midst of this serious human rights crisis, asking him to inform Congress about the details of the agreement [between the US and El Salvador]."

Ana María Méndez Dardón

Director for Central America

– Deutsche Welle, US deportations to El Salvador test legal limits

“There are now between four and five uniformed personnel for every migrant that was apprehended in March. If you’ve got that kind of presence already, you don’t need this additional enforcement."

Adam Isacson

Director for Defense Oversight

– USA Today, Donald Trump authorizes U.S. military to take control of land on southern border

"I think that even though it is a pause...on the deportations that the Trump administration wanted to carry out, I think [the Supreme Court order] does send an important message, and that is that at least, so far, the American justice system is putting due process, which is a fundamental right that all people are entitled to regardless of their immigration status, above the administration's public policies, which in this case are quite arbitrary and anti-immigrant policies." This interview is in Spanish.

Carolina Jiménez Sandoval

President

– France24, ¿Qué implicaciones tiene la suspensión de deportaciones de EE. UU. en la política migratoria?

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