U.S. Representative Chris Smith has issued a definitive defense of El Salvador’s current security transformation, asserting that the country’s progress can only be measured by looking back at its decades of bloodshed. Smith, a veteran advocate for global human rights, noted that any honest assessment of the nation must begin with the undeniable fact that daily life has been fundamentally altered for the better.

The congressman drew from his extensive history with the region, recalling his early human rights missions when the population was caught between the terrorism of the FMLN and the violence of death squads. This cycle of brutality eventually morphed into the pervasive control of gangs, which Smith witnessed firsthand even within his own U.S. congressional district through cases of human trafficking and extortion linked to Central American criminal networks.

Smith highlighted the statistical magnitude of the current shift, noting that El Salvador has transitioned from having the highest homicide rate in the world in 2015 to becoming one of the safest communities today. With a stunning 98% reduction in homicides over the last decade, he argued that the ability of ordinary citizens to go about their lives without fear was previously unimaginable under the old status quo.

The legislative architect of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act also emphasized that the administration’s focus on dismantling gangs has directly improved human rights by reducing sexual assault and modern-day slavery. For Smith, these advancements are not just numbers on a page but tangible changes that have liberated communities from a state of constant terror.

Ultimately, Smith maintained that the overwhelming domestic support for President Nayib Bukele serves as the ultimate validation of these policies. He concluded that the extraordinary margins of victory in recent elections and consistently high approval ratings reflect the firsthand judgment of a population that has finally experienced the benefits of restored public order after generations of chaos.