Latest news with #NewIdeas
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- General
- Boston Globe
Mass. needs to codify education rights for immigrant students
Their courage would lead to the landmark 1982 Supreme Court Advertisement I learned the details of this inspiring story while researching my book 'Making Americans: Stories of Historic Struggles, New Ideas, and Inspiration in Immigrant Education. ' But now some states are challenging some of my students' right to an education. In the past several months, Advertisement The court made the right decision in 1982. And it is the right decision now. It is right because the Constitution is clear: The 14th Amendment guarantees that 'no person' within the country's jurisdiction can be denied 'equal protection of the laws.' The promise extends to all persons, without qualification. As Federal District Judge William Justice, who first heard the case in 1977, wrote, denying undocumented students access to education would create a permanent underclass. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan Jr., who authored the court's 1982 decision, wrote that denying undocumented students access to education would impose a 'lifetime hardship' that would be harmful to children and to the 'progress of our nation.' Public school teachers know that immigrant students — regardless of their documentation status — bring extraordinary strengths to our classrooms that benefit all students and their communities. I hope that the Supreme Court will hold firm on the crucial role of education, even as we see once-sacrosanct rights stripped away. In 2020, the Massachusetts Legislature had the foresight to Similarly, the Legislature should take proactive steps to protect the right to education for all children in the Commonwealth. Advertisement The State House is currently considering a bill that would codify Plyler at the state level as well as current federal provisions and guidance that protect immigrating students with disabilities and ensure immigrant families have access to qualified interpreters when interacting with schools. Nearly 400 years ago, just three blocks from the state Capitol, Massachusetts opened our country's first public school. We know the vital role education plays for children, for communities, and for the future of the country. The Legislature should affirm that education is vital for the success of Massachusetts and secure the promise of education for every child in our Commonwealth.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
With Bukele Emboldened, El Salvador's Authoritarian Slide Is Accelerating
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has never concealed his autocratic tendencies. He had already unabashedly referred to himself as the world's coolest dictator, but since enjoying the firm embrace of U.S. President Donald Trump, Bukele has grown emboldened. In recent weeks, he has intensified his crackdown on critics and accelerated his efforts to suppress dissent, turning the screws on human rights organizations, journalists and civil society at large. Bukele's acolytes have arrested one of the country's most prominent human rights activists, have enacted a 'foreign agents' law that resembles the ones used in dictatorships like Russia and Nicaragua to weaken civil society, and have made life even more threatening for independent journalists, prompting more of them to flee into exile. The millennial president, who became enormously popular by imposing draconian policing tactics that restored security to a country that had been plagued by brutal gang violence, quickly consolidated power after becoming president in 2019. He easily led his New Ideas party to full control of the legislature, secured an ironclad majority in the Supreme Court, and maneuvered to win a second term in office, even though the country's constitution clearly limits presidents to a single one. Before long, he had full control of the country, steadily dismantling democratic institutions. Through it all, Salvadorans seemed satisfied with the bargain. Security had greatly improved the quality of life in their impoverished country. Polls consistently showed his approval hovering around 80 percent. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. In the past few months, however, as El Salvador has come under greater global scrutiny stemming from Trump's deportation of migrants to prisons there, even Salvadorans are having second thoughts. A recent poll showed Bukele's approval rating sliding to 55 percent, fully 20 points lower than a year ago, with two-thirds of respondents saying they disapprove of his controversial use of Salvadoran prisons to house deportees in exchange for cash from the U.S. government. Bukele's notorious prisons stand at the center of the security policies that transformed the country and raised the alarm of human rights organizations and democratic activists. In 2022, he declared a state of emergency that remains in place to this day, allowing police to arrest and imprison individuals without any semblance of due process. The prison population has tripled, with human rights groups documenting hundreds of deaths inside and desperate families saying their relative have disappeared without a trace into the system. Thousands of innocent men have been swept up and warehoused in crowded cells without access to legal representation or communication with the outside world. Conditions in the terrorism confinement center, or CECOT—which now also houses migrants deported by the Trump administration—are labeled as torture by human rights experts. Now, after high praise from the U.S. president, a visit to Trump in the White House, and histrionic tours of the CECOT prison by administration officials like Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Bukele is feeling no pressure from the world's most powerful country to tone down his tactics. As a result, he is becoming less patient with his critics at home. On Sunday night, May 18, police arrested Ruth Lopez, one of the best-known anti-corruption and human rights lawyers in Central America. Lopez heads Cristosal, an organization that has been looking into corruption in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Cristosal was investigating multiple instances of potential corruption under Bukele, including the misuse of pandemic funds, the diversion of public funds to acquire Pegasus software for spying on journalists, as well as secretive negotiations between Bukele's government and Salvadoran gangs. Her organization lambasted Lopez's detention as part of a 'systematic strategy of criminalization against those who defend human rights' under Bukele. Human Rights Watch said the arrest, 'is not an isolated incident—it marks a dangerous escalation in President Bukele's effort to silence dissent.' The Bukele administration's attorney general's office accused her of collaborating 'in the theft of funds from state coffers,' linking her to the former president of the supreme electoral tribunal, Eugenio Chicas, who had been arrested earlier on charges of illicit enrichment. Chicas, who had also worked under the previous administration, denies the charges. The opposition claims his arrest is politically motivated. Chicas and Bukele have an acrimonious history. Back in 2017, when Chicas was a government minister, Bukele accused him of rape. Chicas sued for slander and won. Bukele was ordered by the court to pay Chicas $50,000. Earlier this month, two days after arresting the head of an NGO that was looking into malfeasance in Bukele's government, the legislature moved to silence just about any organization it deems threatening. By a 57 to 3 vote, the Bukele-controlled Congress passed the 'foreign agents' law. The pretext for the law was a protest by peasant families in front of Bukele's residence. The president claimed they had been 'manipulated … by globalist NGOs.' Under the law, any organization that receives funding, including donations, goods or services from abroad must register as a 'foreign agent,' which triggers steep taxes, crippling government interference and potentially a stain on its reputation. The law's definition of foreign support is absurdly broad, and defines as foreign supporters 'people determined by the Foreign Agents Registry to fall under this category.' Groups that register are sharply limited in their activities and those which fail to register and are later found to qualify face destructive penalties. Most crucially, the law gives the government the ability to monitor and shut down organizations receiving foreign support. The government says the law aims to promote transparency, but Human Rights Watch says it's real aim is to 'stifle dissent.' Foreign agent laws have become a preferred tool of autocracy. When Georgia, the former Soviet republic, introduced similar legislation, the action triggered months of massive street protests by democracy advocates, who correctly feared the new law would severely handicap their democracy. There is no question that Bukele has done enormous good in El Salvador, pulling the country out of its morass of violence. But instead of using those security gains to steer El Salvador into a prosperous democratic future, he is aggressively using his successes to turn the country into a dictatorship under his rule. El Salvador didn't have to choose between security and democracy. But now, made even stronger by support from the Trump administration, Bukele seems more determined than ever to burnish his autocratic credentials. Frida Ghitis is WPR's senior columnist and a contributor to CNN and The Washington Post. Her WPR column appears every Thursday. You can follow her on Twitter and Threads at @fridaghitis. The post With Bukele Emboldened, El Salvador's Authoritarian Slide Is Accelerating appeared first on World Politics Review.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Why is El Salvador's President Bukele targeting foreign-funded nonprofits?
Human rights groups, politicians and experts have sharply criticised a law approved by El Salvador's Congress as a censorship tool, designed to silence and criminalise dissent by nongovernmental organisations critical of President Nayib Bukele. The law proposed by Bukele bypassed normal legislative procedures and was passed on Tuesday night by a Congress under the firm control of his New Ideas party. Bukele first tried to introduce a similar law in 2021, but after strong international backlash, it was never brought for a vote by the full Congress. Bukele said the law is intended to limit foreign influence and corruption. It comes after the government took a number of steps that have prompted concerns the country may be entering a new wave of crackdowns. Critics warn that it falls in line with measures passed by governments in Nicaragua, Venezuela, Russia, Belarus and China. Here are more details about the root of the criticism: Anyone — individual or organisation, local or foreign — who acts in the interest of a foreign entity or receives foreign funding to operate in El Salvador is required to register under the law. Every payment, whether in cash, goods or services, made to such groups will be subject to a 30-percent tax. The final law passed does not specify how the money from the tax will be used. While the United States also has a law that requires individuals working on behalf of foreign entities and governments to register, Bukele's is far broader in scope and grants him greater powers. It is fairly common in poorer countries in Latin America to depend on international aid dollars, as it is often difficult to raise money in their own countries. Analysts say a broad definition of a 'foreign agent' in the law could cover: Human rights organisations Community associations Independent media outlets Foreign-funded startups or businesses Religious groups International aid agenciesThe law creates a new government body called RAEX, or Registry of Foreign Agents, which will have wide powers, including setting requirements for registration, approving or denying applications, revoking or refusing to renew registrations and demanding documents or information at any time. Some NGOs can apply for exceptions, but RAEX will decide who can operate in the country. About 8,000 NGOs operate in El Salvador and often depend on foreign donations due to a lack of funds available in the Central American nation. Some of those groups have long been at odds with Bukele and have criticised some of his actions, including his decision to waive key constitutional rights to crack down on the country's gangs and seeking re-election despite clear constitutional prohibitions. The rules NGOs will have to adhere to the following: They must register with RAEX and report the source and purpose of all donations. They must keep complete accounting records, use the banks for transactions and follow anti-money laundering laws. They cannot operate without registering. They cannot engage in political activities or actions seen as threatening public order or national security. They cannot use foreign donations for undeclared activities or share information on behalf of foreign donors without labelling it as such. Violations of the rules can lead to fines between $100,000 to $250,000 and possible closure. Critics say Bukele revived the law because he has now consolidated power across all branches of government. His political alliance with US President Donald Trump has also emboldened him. Bukele announced the law shortly after a protest near his home ended in a violent crackdown by police that saw two people arrested. In addition, it comes after a number of moves by Bukele that have raised concerns that the self-described 'world's coolest dictator' is cracking down on dissent. Just two days before the law passed, the government arrested an anticorruption lawyer with the human rights organisation Cristosal — one of Bukele's most outspoken critics — on corruption charges. The government arrested the heads of bus companies for defying an order from Bukele posted on his social media. Journalists with the investigative news organisation El Faro said they had to flee the country after receiving word that the government was preparing orders for their arrest, after they published reports on the president's links to gangs. Opposition legislator Claudia Ortiz called the law 'an authoritarian tool for censorship' and said it hands the president excessive levels of control. 'It's obvious that exemptions will only be given to groups that align with the government, while those who expose corruption or abuse will be punished,' she said. Lawyer Roxana Cardona of the NGO Justicia Social y Controlaría Ciudadana said: 'The Foreign Agents Law seeks to suppress organisations that promote civic participation or support marginalised groups the state ignores.' Eduardo Escobar, director of Acción Ciudadana, added: 'This is part of the government's increasing repression. It affects constitutional rights like freedom of expression and freedom of association.' Lawyer and analyst Bessy Ríos said: 'The goal is to control the funding of civil society, especially organisations critical of the government.'
Al Jazeera
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Why is El Salvador's President Bukele targeting foreign-funded nonprofits?
Human rights groups, politicians and experts have sharply criticised a law approved by El Salvador's Congress as a censorship tool, designed to silence and criminalise dissent by nongovernmental organisations critical of President Nayib Bukele. The law proposed by Bukele bypassed normal legislative procedures and was passed on Tuesday night by a Congress under the firm control of his New Ideas party. Bukele first tried to introduce a similar law in 2021, but after strong international backlash, it was never brought for a vote by the full Congress. Bukele said the law is intended to limit foreign influence and corruption. It comes after the government took a number of steps that have prompted concerns the country may be entering a new wave of crackdowns. Critics warn that it falls in line with measures passed by governments in Nicaragua, Venezuela, Russia, Belarus and China. Here are more details about the root of the criticism: Anyone — individual or organisation, local or foreign — who acts in the interest of a foreign entity or receives foreign funding to operate in El Salvador is required to register under the law. Every payment, whether in cash, goods or services, made to such groups will be subject to a 30-percent tax. The final law passed does not specify how the money from the tax will be used. While the United States also has a law that requires individuals working on behalf of foreign entities and governments to register, Bukele's is far broader in scope and grants him greater powers. It is fairly common in poorer countries in Latin America to depend on international aid dollars, as it is often difficult to raise money in their own countries. Analysts say a broad definition of a 'foreign agent' in the law could cover: The law creates a new government body called RAEX, or Registry of Foreign Agents, which will have wide powers, including setting requirements for registration, approving or denying applications, revoking or refusing to renew registrations and demanding documents or information at any time. Some NGOs can apply for exceptions, but RAEX will decide who can operate in the country. About 8,000 NGOs operate in El Salvador and often depend on foreign donations due to a lack of funds available in the Central American nation. Some of those groups have long been at odds with Bukele and have criticised some of his actions, including his decision to waive key constitutional rights to crack down on the country's gangs and seeking re-election despite clear constitutional prohibitions. The rules NGOs will have to adhere to the following: Violations of the rules can lead to fines between $100,000 to $250,000 and possible closure. Critics say Bukele revived the law because he has now consolidated power across all branches of government. His political alliance with US President Donald Trump has also emboldened him. Bukele announced the law shortly after a protest near his home ended in a violent crackdown by police that saw two people arrested. In addition, it comes after a number of moves by Bukele that have raised concerns that the self-described 'world's coolest dictator' is cracking down on dissent.
23-05-2025
- Politics
Why El Salvador President Bukele's foreign agents law is fueling democratic concerns
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador -- Human rights organizations, politicians and experts have sharply criticized a law approved by El Salvador's Congress as a censorship tool designed to silence and criminalize dissent in the Central American nation by targeting nongovernmental organizations that have long been critical of President Nayib Bukele. The law proposed by Bukele was passed Tuesday night by a Congress under firm control of his New Ideas party, and bypassed normal legislative procedures. Bukele first tried to introduce a similar law in 2021, but after strong international backlash it was never brought for a vote by the full Congress. Bukele said the law is intended to limit foreign influence and corruption. It comes after the government took a number of steps that have fueled concerns that the country may be entering a new wave of crackdowns. Critics warn that it falls in line with measures passed by autocratic governments in Nicaragua, Venezuela, Russia, Belarus and China. Here are more details about the root of the criticism: Anyone — individual or organization, local or foreign — who acts in the interest of a foreign entity or receives foreign funding to operate in El Salvador is required to register under the law. Every payment, whether in cash, goods, or services, made to such groups will be subject to a 30% tax. The final law passed does not specify how the money from the tax will be used. While the United States also has a law that requires individuals working on behalf of foreign entities and governments to register, Bukele's is far broader in scope and grants him greater powers. It is fairly common in poorer countries in Latin America to depend on international aid dollars, as it's often difficult to raise money in their own countries. — Human rights organizations — Community associations — Independent media outlets — Foreign-funded startups or businesses — Religious groups — International aid agencies The law creates a new government body called RAEX, or Registry of Foreign Agents, which will have wide powers, including setting requirements for registration, approving or denying applications, revoking or refusing to renew registrations and to demand documents or information at any time. Some NGOs can apply for exceptions, but RAEX will decide who can operate in the country. Around 8,000 NGOs operate in El Salvador and often depend on foreign donations due to lack of funds available in the Central American nation. Some of those groups have long been at odds with Bukele and have criticized some of his actions, including waiving key constitutional rights to crack down on the country's gangs and seeking reelection despite clear constitutional prohibitions. The rules NGOs will have to follow: — They must register with RAEX and report the source and purpose of all donations. — They must keep complete accounting records, use the banks for transactions and follow anti-money laundering laws. — They cannot operate without registering. — They cannot engage in political activities or actions seen as threatening public order or national security. — They cannot use foreign donations for undeclared activities or share information on behalf of foreign donors without labeling it as such. Violations of the rules can lead to fines between $100,000 to $250,000, and possible closure. Critics say Bukele revived the law because he has now consolidated power across all branches of government. His political alliance with U.S. President Donald Trump has emboldened him. Bukele announced the law shortly after a protest near his home ended in a violent crackdown by police and two people being arrested. It comes after a number of moves by Bukele that have raised concerns that the self-described 'world's coolest dictator' is cracking down on dissent. — Just two days before the law passed, the government arrested an anti-corruption lawyer with the human rights organization Cristosal – one of Bukele's most outspoken critics – on corruption charges. — The government arrested the heads of bus companies for defying an order from Bukele posted on his social media. — Journalists with the investigative news organization El Faro said they had to flee the country after receiving word the government was preparing orders for their arrest after they published reports on the president's links to gangs. — Opposition lawmaker Claudia Ortiz called the law 'an authoritarian tool for censorship' and said it hands the president excessive levels of control. 'It's obvious that exemptions will only be given to groups that align with the government, while those who expose corruption or abuse will be punished,' she said. — Lawyer Roxana Cardona of the NGO Justicia Social y Controlaría Ciudadana said: 'The Foreign Agents Law seeks to suppress organizations that promote civic participation or support marginalized groups the state ignores.' — Eduardo Escobar, director of Acción Ciudadana, added: 'This is part of the government's increasing repression. It affects constitutional rights like freedom of expression and freedom of association.'
