Each piece in this collection highlights a different facet of this crisis. We examine the case of Cristosal, one of El Salvador’s leading human rights organizations, forced into exile under Bukele’s Foreign Agents Law. In Nicaragua, we delve into the disturbing rise of forced disappearances as a tactic of terror, and investigate the symbolic takeover of the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama. These stories expose not just the actions of powerful regimes but the profound impact on individuals and communities fighting for their rights and survival. Meanwhile, a report on Costa Rica’s proposed drag ban raises alarm bells about creeping censorship in a country often seen as a regional exception.

We also take a moment to question the language we use to describe migration and inequality. In our feature on the word “expat,” we ask why some migrants are treated with prestige while others face criminalization. And finally, our analysis of Ortega and Bukele draws out the uncomfortable parallels between two leaders who, despite their ideological differences, mirror each other in their authoritarian tactics.