cristosal of el salvador

The head lawyer of a human rights group helping the families of Venezuelan migrants imprisoned in El Salvador after being deported from the United States has been arrested, the organization and the government said Monday. The group helps families of Salvadorans caught up in Bukele's waves of arrests and the Venezuelans who were deported by the Trump administration in March.

El Salvador's Journalists Association has moved its legal status abroad due to a new foreign agents law, which imposes a 30% tax on foreign funds and requires registration. This decision aims to continue defending press freedom amidst concerns the law silences critical voices. Many journalists have already fled the country fearing arrest.

El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, under President Nayib Bukele's administration, represents a severe crackdown on gang violence, leading to significant human rights concerns. Despite reducing violence, the prison’s harsh conditions and lack of due process have drawn criticism from legal and human rights experts.

Luis, a baker, was arrested while trying to get a document attesting to his clean criminal history at a government office. He was accused of being associated with gang members and was taken to El Salvador's largest prison. During his time in prison, he experienced severe abuse and feared for his life. Human rights organisations have documented multiple deaths and cases of violence in the prison. He was eventually released, but his prospects have been limited.

According to Human Rights Watch, over 60 children in El Salvador have suffered arbitrary detention, torture, and abuse since a state of emergency was declared two years ago to combat gangs. The report documents severe mistreatment, false confessions, and inadequate protection for minors, amidst broader concerns over rights violations and a controversial crackdown on crime under President Nayib Bukele's administration.

The Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, which lies about an hour outside of the capital of El Salvador is where 300 deportees from the US are housed. The 'megaprison' is cited as a solution to tackling criminal gangs.

El Salvador's Congress, under President Bukele's control, has approved a controversial law requiring individuals and organizations receiving foreign funding to register and face a 30% tax. Critics denounce the law as a censorship tool designed to silence dissent and target NGOs critical of Bukele's administration.