• Press Release

El Salvador Agreement Must Be Condemned Immediately

September 20, 2019

Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

Responding to reports of a cooperative agreement between the United States and El Salvador, which would potentially force certain asylum-seekers to request asylum there, Charanya Krishnaswami, the advocacy director for the Americas at Amnesty International USA, said:

“This agreement makes a mockery of the right to asylum. People should not be forced to seek safety in countries where they will not be safe. 

“El Salvador has one of the highest rates of violence in the world, including gender-based violence so rampant that Amnesty International declared it one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a woman. It is not safe for its own citizens, much less for asylum-seekers. 

“This measure, which is part of a series of brazen and reckless attempts by the Trump administration to eviscerate the right to seek safety in the United States, must be condemned immediately.”

Background:

From September 16-20, Amnesty International USA was on the ground in south Texas to observe proceedings taking place under the so-called “Migrant Protection Protocols” (Remain in Mexico). 

On Tuesday, September 24, Amnesty will be testifying at a hearing of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on limitations on the right to seek asylum in the United States and will offer testimony about the illegality of “safe third country” agreements and other efforts to limit access to protection at the Mexico/US border.  

To set up an interview prior to the hearing, contact Mariya Parodi at [email protected]