June 2025: News updates from El Salvador

  Español abajo   As of June 4th, 2025, we share with you the following summary of recent developments impacting US-El Salvador solidarity.   English/Inglés: Arbitrary detentions and attacks on organizations   On May 18th, anti-corruption attorney Ruth Eleonora López, was arrested by police in El Salvador. López is a university professor and head of […]

A Quick Summary of the Approval of the Foreign Agents Law in El Salvador

Español Abajo On May 20, the Legislative Assembly approved the Foreign Agents Law with 56 votes. The law imposes a 30% tax on transactions originating from abroad, applicable to both natural and legal persons, whether national or foreign. Some key articles in the law include: According to the law, a Registry of Foreign Agents will […]

Meet Olivia!

  (Español abajo)   Olivia Petipas is our newest staff member.  About Olivia Olivia joined Sister Cities staff in April 2025 as the US Grassroots Organizer. She has been involved in the network since 2023 as a Sistering Council Representative, Coordinating Team Co-Secretary, and member of the U.S. Policy Circle. Olivia holds a Bachelor’s Degree from […]

May, 2025: News updates from El Salvador.

Español abajo Here is our monthly blog with some relevant news from El Salvador. Residents of communities in Tecoluca denounce the pollution of rivers near the CECOT prison. Residents of the communities near the mega prison reported that, at dawn on Friday, April 25, they observed large streams of water with white foam, similar to […]

April 2025: News Updates from El Salvador

Español abajo.  As of April 6th, 2025, we share with you the following summary of recent developments impacting US-El Salvador solidarity.  Venezuelans Deported to El Salvador On Saturday, March 15th, Trump used an 18th Century war-time declaration to deport over 200 Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador to be held in Bukele’s prisons for the price […]

2025 Popular Education School: Frequently Asked Questions

  ~*~APPLY HERE~*~  ~*~INSCRÍBETE AQUÍ~*~ (Español abajo) US-El Salvador Sister Cities is excited to announce that we will be hosting a Popular Education Summer School in El Salvador from August 10th-17th, 2025.  Here’s what you need to know:  When? August 10th-17th Where? Arcatao, Chalatenango, El Salvador.  Arcatao has a sister community in Madison, WI, and […]

“The Whole System Has To Be Changed From The Root “/ “Hay que Cambiar de Raìz todo El Sistema”

This March 24, we commemorate the martyrdom of St. Oscar Romero. Let us keep alive his legacy of being the voice of the voiceless, of denouncing social injustices that afflict the people. “Violence will continue to change its name, but there will always be violence as long as the root from which all these horrendous […]

March, 2025: News updates from El Salvador.

March, 2025: News updates from El Salvador.  (Español Abajo) To read last month’s news update, click here.  Capture of Human Rights Defender, Fidel Zavala: On February 26th, human rights defender Fidel Zavala, alongside 20 other community leaders and organizers, was arrested in La Floresta. Zavala, spokesperson for the Unidad de Defensa de Derechos Humanos y […]

El Salvador’s Ongoing Battle Against Metallic Mining: From Historic Ban to Renewed Struggle

(Español Abajo) In 2017, El Salvador approved a law banning metallic mining after a long struggle alongside various communities, environmental organizations, social organizations, and international solidarity. Ultimately, history was made as El Salvador became the first country to prohibit the practice of mining. More information can be found in The Guardian. US-El Salvador Sister Cities, […]