Central America
U.S. pledges to continue promoting work visas for Salvadorans
February 16 |
The US ambassador to El Salvador, William Duncan, promised that the US government will continue to promote the H-2 work visa program, hand in hand with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so that even more salvadorans can apply for a temporary work stay in the North American nation.
Duncan attended this Wednesday to the interview day conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with U.S. authorities in San Salvador. There are one thousand job openings in eight U.S. companies. The interviews began today and will end on Friday.
However, there will be more positions that will be opened this year. There are already more than 3,600 Salvadorans who have been able to work legally in the United States thanks to the bilateral impulse given to the H-2 visas. These individuals also have the opportunity to return for a new work season.
“These visas have the potential to change the lives of Salvadorans and is an important bet to provide legal migration options. Behind migration there is a strong desire to overcome a father, a mother, who is looking for a way to move their families forward. We are here now to tell them that there are legal and safe opportunities to work in the United States,” said Duncan.
The government of President Nayib Bukele has been able to reduce irregular migration of Salvadorans thanks to the Labor Mobility Program and hard work to improve security.
“Temporary work visas allow them to have access to a source of income without having to put their lives or those of their families at risk,” continued the U.S. representative.
For her part, the Vice Minister of Diaspora and Human Mobility, Cindy Mariella Portal, stressed that the Salvadoran government is committed to working with nations that “respect the sovereignty of our country and contribute to the welfare of the population.”
“Our vision of the country has been reformulated thanks to the government of President Nayib Bukele, who has prioritized the generation of opportunities in the most vulnerable areas of our country,” Portal highlighted.
This 2023 the joint work for the Labor Mobility Program will continue, said both officials.
The Foreign Ministry and USAID have created an employment exchange so that U.S. companies can choose profiles of Salvadoran workers. In addition, the Foreign Affairs team of El Salvador is in charge of managing the approach.
The job categories range from construction, bartenders, laundry, landscaping, cooks, masons, hotels, among others.
The Labor Mobility Program promotes circular migration. Portal reminded that the Foreign Ministry provides all the necessary support, including for the family of the selected person. When working in the United States, those selected also have the support of the consular network.
“To the workers, I wish them the best in their interview. If you are not selected, do not be discouraged, there will be even more opportunities. I assure you that we will continue to promote this type of initiatives hand in hand with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and I want to thank Vice Minister Portal for her commitment to this program. We also appreciate the support of U.S. companies that continue to provide jobs to Salvadorans,” said Duncan, who also reflected that working in the United States in a legal and orderly manner “does not have to be impossible.
Central America
Arrests and clashes in Tegucigalpa as vote count continues after Honduras election
Protesters affiliated with the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre) gathered in a demonstration that led to several arrests, disturbances, the burning of tires, and left at least 15 people injured outside the center where votes from Honduras’ November 30 general election are still being counted.
The group assembled on Monday outside the National Institute for Professional Training (INFOP) in Tegucigalpa, after President Xiomara Castro called on supporters through social media, claiming that a “new coup d’état” was being plotted in Honduras.
“I call on the people, social movements, grassroots organizations, party militants and citizens to urgently and peacefully gather in Tegucigalpa to defend the popular mandate, reject any coup attempt and make it clear to the world that a new coup is taking shape here,” the president said.
Castro has stated that she does not recognize the partial election results, which currently place right-wing candidate Nasry Asfura in the lead with 40.54% of the vote, followed closely by liberal candidate Salvador Nasralla with 39.20%. The ruling party’s candidate, Rixi Moncada, remains in a distant third place with 19.30%, with no realistic chance of a comeback.
Both the Libre Party and the Liberal Party, led by Castro and Nasralla respectively, have alleged electoral fraud. On Tuesday, the two parties agreed to participate in the special review panels that the National Electoral Council (CNE) says will finalize the count by reexamining 1,081 polling records flagged for irregularities.
Former president Manuel Zelaya, Castro’s husband and a senior figure within Libre, said last week that according to his party’s own nationwide tally of presidential ballots, Nasralla—a former Libre member—won the election.
Central America
Bukele says AI partnership with xAI will transform public education in El Salvador
President Nayib Bukele stated on Monday that the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with the support of Elon Musk’s company xAI, will help redefine the future of public education in El Salvador.
“El Salvador and xAI will redefine the future of public education. Children will not use Grok the same way we use it,” the president wrote on X.
Last week, Bukele and Musk announced a partnership to provide personalized tutoring through the AI assistant Grok for all students enrolled in public schools across the country.
This pioneering alliance between the Government of El Salvador and xAI represents the launch of the world’s first national education program powered by artificial intelligence.
“Grok will be used in all public schools in El Salvador over the next two years. More than one million students will receive personalized tutoring. Thousands of teachers will receive assistance and support as partners in the educational process,” the president explained.
Meanwhile, FMLN Secretary General Manuel Flores described the incorporation of AI into public school education as “reckless,” arguing that many schools still lack basic services such as electricity and internet access.
“Schools do not even have desks. They said: ‘All schools will have internet’; that promise was not fulfilled. And others used to say: ‘The only promises that matter are the ones that are kept,’” Flores said during his regular Monday press conference.
Flores questioned who would teach artificial intelligence classes, noting that in some areas schools lack televisions or electricity. “How are they going to have internet? Starlink [satellite internet service] has already been announced five times,” he added.
He further labeled the AI-driven education program promoted by President Bukele as “another lie,” comparing it to the “Two Schools a Day” initiative, which he claimed is “pure propaganda.”
The “Two Schools a Day” program was announced earlier this year and involves the construction or reconstruction of public schools nationwide to improve educational quality. The project is being implemented by government institutions such as the National Directorate of Municipal Works.
Central America
El Salvador ranks among top countries in the Americas in fight against organized crime
El Salvador has positioned itself as the country in the Americas with the strongest performance in the Global Organized Crime Index (GOCI), ranking 18th out of 35 countries in the region and 77th out of 193 nations worldwide that are engaged in the fight against organized crime.
According to the index, El Salvador outperforms Mexico, which ranks 2nd in the Americas and 3rd globally, as well as the United States, which holds the 14th position in the Americas and 60th worldwide.
The Global Organized Crime Index evaluates multiple indicators, including criminal markets, human trafficking and smuggling, extortion, arms trafficking, counterfeit goods trade, illicit trade in excisable goods, environmental crimes involving flora and fauna, crimes against non-renewable resources, heroin, cocaine, cannabis and synthetic drug trafficking, cyber-dependent crimes, financial crimes, mafia-style groups and criminal networks.
Within Central America, El Salvador surpasses Panama, which ranks 8th in the Americas and 21st globally; Costa Rica, ranked 13th in the region and 58th worldwide; Nicaragua, ranked 16th and 69th; Honduras, positioned 5th in the Americas and 13th globally; and Guatemala, which holds 9th place in the Americas and 25th worldwide.
Belize is the only Central American country ranked above El Salvador, placing 23rd in the Americas and 103rd globally. However, while El Salvador climbed 25 positions compared to its 2023 ranking—improving from 52nd to 77th—Belize dropped three positions, moving from 106th in 2023 to 103rd in the current index.
El Salvador’s progress in combating organized crime also surpasses that of several countries across the Americas, including Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Chile and Paraguay, all of which rank lower both regionally and globally.
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