Fred Ramos
The New Yorker

The Rise of Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s Authoritarian President




El Salvador has gone from having the world's highest murder rates to having the world's highest prison rate. Gang members who for decades controlled Salvadoran territory have been arrested under a state of emergency orchestrated by President Nayib Bukele. There is peace in the streets, but thousands of innocent people have been swept up and arrested in President Bukele's gang crackdown. Government officials call them collateral damage. Despite the widespread violation of human rights, there is no doubt that Salvadorans are willing to sacrifice their constitutional freedoms in exchange for security. President Bukele is one of the most popular leaders in all of Latin America.

For this assignment, I tried to stay clear of pictures of gang members—images that are ubiquitous in coverage of El Salvador. Instead, I focused on capturing scenes that reflect how President Bukele’s policies are impacting everyday Salvadorans. The picture of the woman in the animal-print dress kissing her boyfriend in handcuffs is one of my favorites that I’ve taken; for me, it shows an intimate moment while also capturing the quotidian life that is lived everyday outside of prisons in El Salvador. 






© 2024 Fred Ramos. All Rights Reserved. No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced without his written consent.
Prev   Next
View All