The United States Department of State announced on its website Thursday, December 21, that it had added three Salvadorans to the Engel List of individuals who have knowingly engaged in acts that threaten democratic processes.
The United States Engel list identifies individuals who have knowingly subverted democratic processes, engaged in substantial corruption, or hindered investigations into such corrupt activities in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.
Our work to counter corruption, impunity, & efforts to undermine democracy helps to build secure, prosperous societies. The Section 353 report is one of many tools we utilize to promote accountability for corrupt & undemocratic actors in Central America. Brian A. Nichols, U.S. Department of State.
On its December 2023 updated list, the Department of State included Ricardo Gomez, Gerardo Guerrero, and Andres Gregori Rodríguez for undermining democratic processes by intentionally and unfairly blocking access to public information.
Ricardo Gomez, president commissioner of the Institute for Access to Public Information, undermined democratic processes or institutions by purposefully and wrongfully blocking access to public information through his position as president commissioner.
Gerardo Guerrero, commissioner of the Institute for Access to Public Information, undermined democratic processes or institutions by purposefully and wrongfully blocking access to public information through his position as a commissioner.
Andres Gregori Rodriguez, the commissioner of the Institute for Access to Public Information, undermined democratic processes or institutions by purposefully and wrongfully blocking access to public information through his position as a commissioner.
Individuals on the list are not eligible for visas or entry into the United States, and any existing visas they hold will be revoked.
A total of 31 Salvadorans have been listed since 2021, encompassing figures such as Presidential Commissioner Carolina Recinos, former Minister of Agriculture Pablo Anliker, and the present Minister of Work, Rolando Castro, among others.
The Engel list also includes Christian Guevara, who heads the Nuevas Ideas political party legislators, along with former Salvadoran presidents Mauricio Funes and Salvador Sanchez Ceren.
Political corruption in El Salvador has been one of the primary reasons El Salvador has had a hard time growing. Corruption has been part of Salvadoran culture for years.
