The Congressional El Salvador Caucus, led by Congressmen Matt Gaetz and Vicente Gonzalez have sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging the State Department to lower El Salvador’s travel advisory from Level 3 «Reconsider Travel» to Level 1 «Exercise Normal Precautions.»
The letter highlights El Salvador’s significant improvements in safety, with the homicide rate dropping from 104 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015 to 2.4 in 2024. This reduction is attributed to President Nayib Bukele’s policies, which have led to the incarceration of over 75,000 gang members.
El Salvador’s tourism sector has also seen remarkable growth, with a 157 percent increase in the first half of 2024 compared to 2019. The country has successfully hosted major international events, reinforcing its stability.
The Congressmen emphasize that El Salvador’s transformation has positively impacted U.S. interests by reducing irregular migration from Central America by over 60 percent since 2019. They request a timely update to the travel advisory to reflect these improvements and seek an in-person meeting with Secretary Blinken to discuss the issue further.