On 28 April 2025, the organization Cristosal denounced police harassment at its facilities during a press conference. This event focused on the presentation of the results of the visit to the country of the president of the U.S. organization Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, who represent 10 Venezuelan persons deported from the United States and detained in the Terrorism Confinement Center “CECOT” in El Salvador, under serious human rights concerns.
The police officials entered the organization´s facilities, recorded and took photographs of them, as well as the vehicles of the staff and media present at the conference. When the agents were questioned, they reportedly informed that they were verifying a “supposed demonstration in favor of Venezuelans [referring to the immigrants deported by the U.S. government to the CECOT on March, 2025 under the Alien Enemy Act]”, and a press conference”. They lacked of a court order for such a proceeding.
This would not be the only event of civil society organizations in which police officials show up to ask for information. This month it also happened during the press conference of the Roundtable Against Impunity in El Salvador (MECIES).