CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 36: In correspondence with U.N. enforced disappearance investigators, the Salvadoran government claimed the jurisdiction and ultimate fate of the 238 Venezuelans imprisoned in CECOT falls on the U.S. government — even as the Trump administration has claimed the opposite.

As the U.S. government cancels TPS deportation protections for Nicaraguans and Hondurans, Daniel Ortega says little in public while quietly receiving a military deportation flight. Xiomara Castro announces she will seek a diplomatic solution with Trump while continuing to avoid direct confrontation.

In an interview with El Faro English, Guatemalan sociologist Irma Alicia Velásquez Nimatuj, a founder of Semilla a decade ago, calls the new rupture in President Bernardo Arévalo’s party a sign of “lack of leadership and organic political work.”

This episode of Central America in Minutes was written and narrated by Edward Grattan, Leyrian Colón Santiago, and Yuliana Ramazzini, with production by Omnionn. Help us shine a brighter beacon on Central America at support.elfaro.net. Our mantra at El Faro English is simple: Journalism must go on.

CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 35: For the first time in decades, a growing number of political exiles are fleeing El Salvador. In Guatemala, the justice system is the spearhead of attacks against those pursuing corruption. Following the murder of a Nicaraguan exile, the U.N. denounces a “high risk of life and physical safety” for dissidents beyond Nicaraguan borders.

This special July episode of Central America in Minutes was written by Roman Gressier and Leyrian Colón Santiago and produced by Omnionn. Help us shine a brighter beacon on Central America at support.elfaro.net. Our mantra at El Faro English is simple: Journalism must go on.

CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 34: In a regional tour, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced agreements for Guatemala and Honduras to receive third-country asylum claims, and in Panama, to pay for flights to continue deporting migrants, including from Venezuela and Colombia.

In Costa Rica, investigators examine whether a Nicaraguan government-backed hit squad is targeting exiles on the heels of the murder of former military officer and opposition member Roberto Samcam.

New reporting from El Faro English shows how the Trump administration is seeking to dismiss charges against multiple MS-13 gang leaders and deport them to El Salvador before they can testify about Nayib Bukele’s secret former gang negotiations.

This episode of Central America in Minutes was written by Edward Grattan and Roman Gressier and produced by Omnionn. Help us shine a brighter beacon on Central America at support.elfaro.net. Our mantra at El Faro English is simple: Journalism must go on.

Help us continue shining a light on Central America by joining our crowdfunding community at support.elfaro.net. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review. Our mantra at El Faro English is simple: Journalism must go on.

CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 33: The Panamanian government arrested Secretary General of the Banana Industry Workers Union Fransisco Smith four days after an agreement was announced between union leaders, the National Assembly and President Raúl Mulino to amend social security reforms driving the country into nation-wide protest.

This episode of Central America in Minutes was written by Edward Grattan and Roman Gressier and produced by Omnionn. Help us shine a brighter beacon on Central America at support.elfaro.net. Our mantra at El Faro English is simple: Journalism must go on.

Help us continue shining a light on Central America by joining our crowdfunding community at support.elfaro.net. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review. Our mantra at El Faro English is simple: Journalism must go on.

CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 32: In El Salvador, three top military officers are convicted for the emblematic 1982 murder of four Dutch journalists, marking the first conviction of high-ranking military officials in the country for crimes committed during the civil war.

In Honduras, digital outlet Contracorriente reports that the Xiomara Castro administration has launched a media campaign during the electoral season promoting the image of a new supermax facility emulating El Salvador’s CECOT prison.

Despite international pressure, Guatemalan Attorney General Consuelo Porras expands charges against two Indigenous leaders of the 2023 mobilizations against an electoral coup. The E.U. sanctions the Foundation Against Terrorism, a close ally in Porras’ lawfare against civil society.
This episode of Central America in Minutes was written and narrated by Roman Gressier and Edward Grattan, with production by Omnionn. Help us shine a brighter beacon on Central America at support.elfaro.net. Our mantra at El Faro English is simple: Journalism must go on.

CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 31: Rosario Murillo holds the reins in Nicaragua. By their own decree, she and Daniel Ortega are now “co-presidents” ruling without the separation of powers, not even on paper. Three moments help explain Murillo’s rise — but just how durable is her newfound power?

This special June episode of Central America in Minutes was written and narrated by Roman Gressier with audio production and original soundtrack by Omnionn. El Faro English translates Central America. Listen to Central America in Minutes every Friday on major podcast platforms.
Help us continue shining a light on Central America by joining our crowdfunding community at support.elfaro.net. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review. Our mantra at El Faro English is simple: Journalism must go on.

CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 30: In Costa Rica, evidence collected by the press and prosecutors of Rodrigo Chaves rigging a public-relations contract leads the Supreme Court to discuss the possible removal of his immunity — an unprecedented corruption probe against a sitting president.

In Honduras, President Xiomara Castro will be interim defense minister after ruling-party presidential candidate Rixi Moncada leaves for the campaign trail. Moncada’s exit blunts her direct conflict of interest as former head of the armed forces, an institution under scrutiny for its handling of the primaries.

This episode of Central America in Minutes was written and narrated by Roman Gressier with audio production and original soundtrack by Omnionn. Additional reporting from Ramiro Guevara. El Faro English translates Central America. Listen to Central America in Minutes every Friday on major podcast platforms.

Help us continue shining a light on Central America by joining our crowdfunding community at support.elfaro.net. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review. Our mantra at El Faro English is simple: Journalism must go on.

CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 29: The attorneys general of El Salvador and Guatemala meet and agree to increase cooperation, in the most public show of support from the Bukele regime for Consuelo Porras. Weeks after Guatemalan prosecutors threatened to launch an investigation into USAID funding to independent media, the Salvadoran legislature approves a Foreign Agents Law to choke off international aid to critical civil society groups.

In Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo modify the recently rewritten constitution to eliminate the right to double-citizenship. Around the seventh anniversary of the start of the mass uprising against the regime, the Inter-American Court issues a sweeping report on migratory repression in the last two years of dissidents and former political prisoners.

This episode of Central America in Minutes was written and narrated by Roman Gressier with audio production and original soundtrack by Omnionn. Additional reporting from Ramiro Guevara. El Faro English translates Central America. Listen to Central America in Minutes every Friday on major podcast platforms.

Help us continue shining a light on Central America by joining our crowdfunding community at support.elfaro.net. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review. Our mantra at El Faro English is simple: Journalism must go on.