Please join us for a week of action to commemorate Saint Oscar Romero of the Americas.
4 and 46
This week marks 4 years since the president of El Salvador suspended basic constitutional rights under the guise of security and combating gang violence. This ongoing “State of Exception” has resulted in tens of thousands of arbitrary arrests and widespread human rights abuses, while serving as a tool for political repression and consolidation of power.
This week also marks 46 years since the martyrdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero who implored his fellow Salvadorans in the army and National Guard to stop the repression and stop the killing. Today, more than four decades later, the people of El Salvador are facing the biggest threat to their democracy since the end of the civil war.
And last week, calling mass immigration enforcement and detention a “grave moral evil,” Bishop Seitz of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso called on Catholics who work for ICE and Border Patrol to follow the Gospel over the orders of the Trump administration. He invited Catholics and “all people of conscience and goodwill” to join him on March 24 2026 for a prayer gathering and march for an end to mass detention—“as an act of Lenten solidarity with those who are unable to march and pray with us, because they are afraid.”
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To support IRTF’s cross-border solidarity work with communities in El Salvador and migrant support and defense in Ohio, please click here.
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In honor of the prophetic voice of Oscar Romero—a voice that continues to speak truth to power—we invite you to take part in the following:
Romero Days of Action: March 24-27, 2026
A. National Call-In Days to Capitol Hill. 202-224-3121
Oppose the nomination of Troy Edgar to the post of ambassador to El Salvador. By nominating this former DHS assistant secretary who served under Kristi Noem, this administration is showing that it wants to extend DHS’ violent aggression and disregard for the rule of law further into the Western Hemisphere with the help of designated “friends” like President Bukele. Click here to urge your senators to oppose this nomination.
Our asks to US senators and US representatives are: 1) halt the Trump nominee for ambassador to El Salvador; 2) investigate the Salvadorans who were disappeared into the CECOT prison in March 2025, 3) suspend security assistance to El Salvador in light of well-documented human rights abuses, including possible crimes against humanity.
SAMPLE script for your senators. Ask to leave this voice message for the legislative aide who covers foreign relations for Latin America: “My name is [_______] calling from [ city ]. I oppose the nomination of Troy Edgar for Ambassador to El Salvador. Given the horrors we have already witnessed between DHS and the government there, sending a top DHS official as ambassador is the wrong choice. I also urge Senator [senator’s name] to take action to cut U.S. security assistance to El Salvador. I don’t want my tax dollars going to police and military forces that are committing human rights abuses! Thank you.
SAMPLE script for your congressperson. Ask to leave this voice message for the legislative aide who covers foreign relations for Latin America: “My name is [_______] calling from [ city ]. I just left a message for Senator [senator’s name] to oppose the nomination of Troy Edgar for Ambassador to El Salvador. Given the horrors we have already witnessed between DHS and the government there, sending a top DHS official as ambassador is the wrong choice. And I urge that Rep. [congressperson’s name] take action in the US House of Representatives to cut U.S. security assistance to El Salvador. An international group of experts recently issued a report that President Bukele’s [“boo – KE – lay”] actions over the past four years can be legally characterized as crimes against humanity. I don’t want my tax dollars going to police and military forces that are committing human rights abuses! Thank you.
B. Social Media Days of Action for Political Prisoners. Find out more & join in on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and X. Click here for fact sheets and social media graphics to share.
Topics include:
- the dangers that arbitrary arrest and prolonged detention without trial pose to Salvadorans in the US at risk of being deported to El Salvador
-solidarity with human rights defender Fidel Zavala, an Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, and members of the La Floresta environmental defenders
- launch of a new online photo gallery to honor some of the over 400 people who have died in prison since the start of the State of Exception
- paid interviews sought from families of those deported to El Salvador since March 2022 about their experiences since being forcibly returned. See tinyurl.com/4bsut3ss or call Professor Sarah Bishop at CUNY: (646) 504-6340.
C. Solidarity with the people’s resistance to stop harmful metallic mining in El Salvador (webinar)
Monday, March 30 at 3:00 pm ET. The Struggle Against Mining in El Salvador. In March 2017, El Salvador’s legislature passed the world’s first and only ban on metals mining; Bukele and his party overturned it in December 2024. Learn from leading environmental defenders and community leaders in El Salvador about the struggle to resist mining today and the critical role for international solidarity. Click here to register.
D. Other Ways to Take Action:
- Resources for learning more about the state of exception (a work in progress)!
- Print & write your own solidarity post card to El Salvador’s political prisoners and victims of the State of Exception. Materials & instructions here.
- Follow social movement groups on the frontlines of struggle in El Salvador at these social media handles: Bloque de Resistencia y Rebeldia Popular (IG: @bloquepopular, X: @Bloque_RP, Facebook); Movemiento de Víctimas del Regimen (MOVIR) (Facebook)
IRTF is grateful to our solidarity partners for organizing this week of reflection and action: Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America, Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, Denver Justice and Peace Committee, El Refugio, Colective La Chiltota, La Ceiba Colectiva, US-El Salvador Sister Cities.
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