Cristosal Human Rights Group Withdraws from El Salvador Amid Escalating Government Crackdown

 San Salvador / Guatemala City – In a significant setback for civil society in El Salvador, the prominent human rights organization Cristosal has suspended its in-country operations and evacuated nearly all of its staff, citing increasing threats under President Nayib Bukele’s administration. The decision, confirmed to Reuters, marks a new turning point in the government’s ongoing crackdown on dissenting voices and watchdog institutions.

Cristosal, founded by Anglican bishops more than two decades ago, gained national attention for its investigations into alleged government corruption under Bukele. In recent weeks, the organization has withdrawn 20 of its employees from El Salvador, leaving only one staff member behind—Ruth López, its Director of Anti-Corruption and Justice, who has been imprisoned since May on corruption charges.

The organization's exit had not been previously reported and highlights growing concern over the erosion of democratic norms in the country.

“When it became clear the government was prepared to prosecute us with no guarantee of due process or impartiality, it was no longer viable to take such risks,” said Noah Bullock, Executive Director of Cristosal, speaking from Guatemala. The charges against López remain sealed, and Reuters was unable to verify the allegations independently. Both the attorney general’s office and the presidency declined to comment.

Since declaring a state of emergency in March 2022, Bukele has suspended key constitutional protections, curtailed press freedoms, and weakened judicial independence. His aggressive anti-gang campaign has led to the arrest of more than 85,000 individuals—many of whom human rights organizations claim were detained without due process.

Despite widespread criticism from international rights bodies, President Bukele remains immensely popular among Salvadorans, buoyed by a dramatic reduction in homicides—down more than 90% since he assumed office, according to official data. A June survey by the Jesuit Central American University placed his approval rating at nearly 85%. However, that same poll revealed growing concerns over freedom of expression, with nearly 60% of respondents acknowledging that public criticism of the government could lead to retaliation.

A newly enacted law, passed in May, has further intensified scrutiny of civil society groups by mandating that organizations receiving international funding register as “foreign agents,” and levying a 30% tax on foreign financial transactions. Failure to comply could lead to prosecution under anti-money laundering laws, effectively rendering many organizations inoperable.

During his recent state of the nation address, Bukele devoted considerable attention to denouncing human rights organizations and the media, accusing them of using foreign funds to "peddle misery and spread violence."

A Chilling Climate for Civil Society

Cristosal is not alone in its decision to scale back operations. At least four other human rights organizations have withdrawn staff for safety reasons, Bullock said, with Reuters confirming the exit of two. The arrest of Ruth López is seen by many observers as a key escalation in Bukele’s campaign against dissent.

Ingrid Escobar, a prominent human rights lawyer who fled the country after alleging police harassment, stated that around 60 legal and civil society professionals have left since May. According to the Association of Journalists of El Salvador, at least 40 journalists have also gone into exile, citing surveillance, intimidation, and the threat of arrest.

Despite official claims that freedom of expression remains intact, recent arrests paint a different picture. Last month, constitutional lawyer Enrique Anaya—an outspoken critic of Bukele—was detained on sealed money laundering charges. Anaya, who once referred to the president as a "dictator" during a live broadcast, remains in custody. Authorities have offered no public justification for the secrecy surrounding his case.

Angelica Cárcamo, director of the Central American Network of Journalists, has also fled the country. She told Reuters that armed soldiers were seen outside her residence, an incident captured on security cameras. “Without credible guarantees for press freedom or human rights defenders, it’s simply not safe to return,” she said.

International Backing and Domestic Impunity

Cristosal’s Bullock warned that President Bukele’s increasingly authoritarian posture has been emboldened by his close alignment with U.S. President Donald Trump. In March, the two leaders reached an agreement to house 238 Venezuelan migrants deported from the U.S. in El Salvador’s maximum-security facilities. During a White House visit in April, Trump praised Bukele as “one hell of a president” and lauded his domestic policies.

The Salvadoran leader also refused to allow the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen wrongfully deported from the U.S. who alleges he was tortured in prison upon arrival in El Salvador—claims the government has denied.

As El Salvador continues its drift toward authoritarianism, the forced exit of groups like Cristosal serves as a sobering indicator of the shrinking space for civil society and democratic accountability in the country.