CRACKDOWN INTENSIFIES: Top Lawyer ARRESTED

Person in handcuffs with gray sweater

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, once celebrated for tackling gang violence, has intensified his crackdown on critics, arresting constitutional lawyer Enrique Anaya and forcing journalists to flee the country as President Trump’s support bolsters his increasingly authoritarian regime.

Key Takeaways

  • Bukele was inaugurated for a second term despite constitutional prohibitions against consecutive terms, made possible after his allies replaced Supreme Court judges with his supporters
  • Nearly 80,000 people have been detained since 2022 under a “state of exception,” with human rights groups documenting at least 240 deaths in police custody
  • Critics including constitutional lawyer Enrique Anaya have been arrested on questionable charges like money laundering, while journalists from the news site El Faro have fled the country
  • President Trump and right-wing figures including Donald Trump Jr., Matt Gaetz, and Tucker Carlson have shown support for Bukele despite his democratic backsliding
  • The Biden administration has softened its criticism of Bukele as El Salvador helps reduce migration to the United States

Bukele’s Controversial Second Term and Gang Crackdown

Nayib Bukele has secured a second term as El Salvador’s president despite constitutional restrictions prohibiting consecutive terms. This extraordinary political maneuver was facilitated by a 2021 Constitutional Court ruling after Bukele’s allies in the National Assembly removed all five magistrates and replaced them with his supporters. During his inauguration, Bukele, who has dubbed himself the “world’s coolest dictator,” celebrated his controversial policies that have dramatically reduced gang violence but at significant cost to civil liberties and democratic norms.

“Five years ago in this same plaza, I asked you to trust in us and the decisions we are going to take, even if some of them seemed like bitter medicine. The people of El Salvador took the decision to follow the prescription. And together, we have rid ourselves of the gang cancer,” said President Nayib Bukele.

Since declaring a state of emergency in 2022, Bukele’s government has detained nearly 80,000 people, many without formal charges or due process. Human rights organizations have documented severe violations in Salvadoran prisons, including torture and at least 240 deaths in custody. Despite these troubling developments, Bukele maintains high approval ratings domestically, largely due to the significant reduction in gang violence that has plagued the country for decades.

Targeting Critics and Dismantling Democratic Checks

Bukele’s administration has systematically targeted critics and dismantled democratic institutions. Most recently, constitutional lawyer Enrique Anaya was arrested on allegations of money laundering – charges widely seen as politically motivated retaliation for his criticism of Bukele’s government. Human rights lawyer Ruth López was also detained, while numerous journalists and activists have fled the country fearing persecution. The government has reportedly compiled a list of “priority objectives” for arrest that includes journalists and civil society leaders.

El Salvador’s Congress, dominated by Bukele’s party, passed a “foreign agents” law designed to suppress dissent by requiring organizations receiving foreign funding to register as foreign agents and imposing heavy taxes on their operations. This legislation appears specifically targeted at independent media outlets like El Faro, whose journalists have largely fled the country after their reporting exposed alleged negotiations between Bukele’s administration and gang leaders – contradicting the president’s tough-on-crime public stance.

President Trump’s Support and Shifting U.S. Relations

President Trump’s administration has significantly warmed relations with Bukele, providing tacit support that observers say has emboldened the Salvadoran leader’s authoritarian tendencies. The inauguration ceremony for Bukele’s controversial second term was attended by prominent American right-wing figures including Donald Trump Jr., Congressman Matt Gaetz, and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. This show of support comes despite clear evidence of democratic backsliding and human rights abuses in El Salvador.

“We don’t have to applaud everything that they’re doing, but there is a national security interest that should also be balanced,” stated Florida Senator Marco Rubio.

The U.S. Embassy in El Salvador has remained notably silent on recent arrests, despite previously criticizing similar actions. This shift appears driven by pragmatic concerns about migration, as Bukele’s government has cooperated in reducing migration flows to the United States. Families of those detained under Bukele’s crackdown have expressed disappointment with American policy. Meanwhile, Bukele has actively courted American conservatives, presenting himself as a strong leader willing to take decisive action against crime and disorder.

The Human Cost of Bukele’s “Miracle”

While Bukele portrays El Salvador’s dramatic reduction in violence as a miracle achieved through tough policies, the human cost has been severe. Critics argue that mass detentions without due process, torture in prisons, and the systematic dismantling of democratic institutions represent too high a price for security. Families of those detained have organized protests, claiming many innocent people have been swept up in indiscriminate arrests. The climate of fear extends beyond those detained to encompass anyone who might criticize the government.

“We know that your government knows of the kidnapping and deaths of our children and families in Bukele’s jails. President Biden, it shames us that your government decided to participate in the inauguration of a new dictator in El Salvador,” declared Consuelo Gómez, a family member of a detainee.

Bukele’s government has also been accused of sophisticated surveillance against journalists and human rights defenders using Pegasus spyware. This technological repression, combined with legal persecution and threats of arrest, has effectively silenced most domestic criticism of the regime. International observers warn that El Salvador represents a dangerous model that sacrifices fundamental democratic principles and human rights for the appearance of order and security – a model that appears to be gaining admirers among certain segments of American political leadership.

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