Life in El Salvador
Synthetic Drugs in Latin America: A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Top Concern
WASHINGTON — Synthetic drugs remain the top threat to U.S. public health and safety, the Drug Enforcement Administration said in its latest National Drug Threat Assessment, citing evolving criminal strategies, shifting purity levels, and a deepening convergence between narcotics and … Read more
President Bukele Meets Nuevas Ideas Leaders as Party Vows Firmness in Governance
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — President Nayib Bukele met late Wednesday with lawmakers and senior figures from his ruling Nuevas Ideas party, just one day after the Legislative Assembly passed the controversial Foreign Agents Law. The New Ideas (Nuevas Ideas) … Read more
El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly Approves Foreign Agents Law, Imposes 30% Tax on NGO Donations
The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador has approved a controversial Foreign Agents Law that imposes a 30% tax on foreign donations to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and gives them 90 days to register with the government. The law, which was passed … Read more
InSightCrime: El Salvador’s Anti-Gang Crackdown Now Has Political Opponents in Its Crosshairs
Authorities in El Salvador have arrested a prominent human rights defender amid growing concerns over the government’s repressive anti-crime tactics, suggesting policies once used to attack organized crime are being repurposed to target political opponents. On May 18, El Salvador’s … Read more
President Bukele Faces Backlash Over Foreign Agents Law Proposal from NGOs and Opposition
Local and international NGOs swiftly condemned President Bukele’s proposed Foreign Agents Law, warning it could suppress dissent and restrict civil society. Many posted statements on social media calling the measure authoritarian. Human rights organizations outside El Salvador echoed domestic concerns, … Read more
The Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador Seizes Over 3,700 Fake Banknotes in 2024
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — The Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador (BCR) seized more than 3,700 counterfeit banknotes in 2024, registering a drop in fake currency circulation but highlighting continued vulnerabilities in lower-denomination bills, particularly $20 notes. According to … Read more
New Ideas Deputy Ernesto Castro: Bukele’s Right-Hand Man in El Salvador’s Legislature
Few names have gained prominence as quickly and decisively as Ernesto Castro in El Salvador’s shifting political landscape. He may not always be front-page news, but he undeniably has become a central figure in shaping the future of Salvadoran politics. … Read more