Dear John,
This week, we published a comprehensive review of the Trump administration's first year and its impact on Latin America. When I sat down to write this piece, I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of what has transpired in just twelve months. From the gutting of foreign aid on day one to the shocking images of deportees sent to El Salvador's megaprison CECOT, to the most recent military attack on Venezuela, the relentless pace and scope of policy changes have been staggering.
Latin America has undeniably become a focal point of this administration—for better or for worse. In the review, I document four key developments: the dismantling of U.S. support for human rights and democracy abroad, interference in Latin American elections, the devastating impact of the administration’s anti-immigrant agenda on migrants and asylum seekers from the region, and its extreme approach to the "war on drugs" that has already resulted in the extrajudicial killing of at least 124 people in boat strikes.
But as I worked through this analysis, something else became clear to me: the vital importance of WOLA as an organization committed to working with partners to push back on harmful U.S. policies and advocate for the protection of human rights in the region. While chronicling this deluge of harmful actions, I also saw everything WOLA has done this past year to respond—our rapid response statements calling out violations as they happen, our detailed report on attacks against civil society, and countless analyses breaking down complex developments from a human rights perspective.
This work matters now more than ever. As we move into the Trump administration’s second year, in an atmosphere that can feel overwhelming, I want you to know: we're not going anywhere. A key lesson from this past year has been the critical importance of civil society in both the United States and Latin America working together to defend human rights and democracy. WOLA, as the bridge between Washington and the region, is uniquely positioned to continue this essential work—and we will.
In solidarity,
