AGP Executive Report

US–Liberia Deportation Deal: Liberia says it will accept up to 1,200 people deported from the US, with the first group landing at Roberts International Airport—leaving families in the dark about legal status and whether they can leave or return. US Border Crackdown: White House border czar Tom Homan defended the administration’s enforcement approach after DHS/ICE actions involving a Salvadoran accused in a New York boat crash. El Salvador–US Ties: The US Embassy in San Salvador reiterated Bukele as a “key regional partner” and flagged plans for a bilateral economic summit. El Salvador Economy: Banking data shows loans up 10.4% and deposits up 13.4% in H1 2026, while service exports surged in Q1, led by tourism. Local Community Support: San Salvador Home, a 90-year refuge for women with intellectual disabilities, is scrambling after learning its property will be sold. Sports & Culture: Concacaf Nations League schedules place El Salvador in Group B; meanwhile, Belize’s University screened a Salvadoran film through an embassy partnership.

U.S.-El Salvador Ties: The U.S. Embassy says Washington plans an economic summit with President Nayib Bukele, calling him a key regional partner as both sides push trade and investment talks. El Salvador Economy: Abansa reports loans up 10.4% and deposits up 13.4% in the first half of 2026, with construction and services leading credit growth. Cultural Heritage Funding: The U.S. awards $224,586 to conserve Cihuatán Archaeological Park, including new bilingual visitor materials. Tech & Skills Push: El Salvador expands its partnership with Platzi to add AI, English, and leadership training, while also rolling out a national science diplomacy strategy. Security & Justice: An El Salvadoran man convicted of sexually abusing a girl and beating her with floorboards was sentenced to seven years in U.S. court. Regional Context: A 7.2 earthquake struck Peru’s Ayacucho region, with reports of landslides but no confirmed major damage early on. Migration Pressure: About 800 migrants marched from Tapachula toward Mexico City seeking jobs and faster regularization.

Cultural Heritage Funding: The U.S. is boosting support for El Salvador’s Cihuatán Archaeological Park with a new $224,586 grant, bringing total U.S. investment to over $500,000 to conserve structures, upgrade documentation, and add bilingual visitor materials. Tech Skills Push: El Salvador is expanding its partnership with Platzi to grow the technology workforce, adding new courses focused on AI, English, leadership, soft skills, and entrepreneurship for Salvadorans at home and abroad. Science Diplomacy Plan: The government has launched a National Strategy on Science, Diplomacy, and Academic Cooperation to link research, universities, the private sector, and international funding, with ANIA set to support an AI-powered agent for the new roundtable. AI Infrastructure Expansion: ANIA is also moving forward on El Salvador’s AI strategy with added infrastructure support, reinforcing the country’s push to become a regional innovation hub. Connectivity Project: CAF has opened a call for proposals to fund studies for El Salvador’s first subsea cable, aiming to cut reliance on land-based internet providers. Local Economy & Exports: El Salvador’s export sector continues to grow, with recent reporting pointing to stronger performance in key markets.

Regional Economy Watch: ECLAC cut its Latin America and Caribbean 2026 growth forecast to 2.2% but lifted El Salvador’s outlook to 3.9%, citing stronger momentum and remittances. Local Development: San Salvador’s Mercado Cuscatlán is nearing completion, with a reopening expected between September and October and new services including AgroMercado, a library, and public offices. Trade & Jobs: El Salvador’s export sector grew 4.1% in H1 2026, with manufacturing leading and the U.S. remaining a top buyer. Tech & AI: ANIA moves forward on El Salvador’s AI push, including new infrastructure with NVIDIA, while a tech leader says the country “feels like another country” after a decade of change. Public Safety & Immigration: U.S. authorities say an El Salvadoran man in New York Harbor custody after a deadly capsizing is being held for deportation and federal charges; separate reporting also links a Salvadoran suspect to a Virginia stabbing case. Culture: Pablo Alborán cancels a Spain show after severe pneumonia, with El Salvador listed among his upcoming Latin America stops.

Boat Tragedy and Deportation: U.S. authorities arrested Salvadoran boat operator Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana, 46, after a Liberty Island-area capsizing killed a mother and her 5-month-old daughter; DHS says he entered illegally in 2007 and lied about being a U.S. citizen, and he remains in ICE custody while facing federal charges. Virginia Murder Case: A 19-year-old Salvadoran, Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos, accused in the stabbing death of Fairfax County mother Carmen Lizet Puch, was ordered held without bond in Maryland as prosecutors seek extradition to Virginia. TPS Backlash: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul renewed her fight against ending Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and warned Salvadorans’ upcoming TPS termination could trigger job losses and strain healthcare. AI Push in El Salvador: ANIA appointed robotics and AI expert Dr. Manuel Cardona as strategic advisor to expand sovereign AI infrastructure and training. China–El Salvador Ties: China’s top legislator met El Salvador’s legislative assembly president in Beijing to deepen cooperation as diplomatic ties mark an anniversary.

Local Relief Effort: El Salvador’s agriculture ministry is delivering subsistence support to farming families in the east-central region as dry weather threatens crops and household income. Diaspora Voting Access: The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) says overseas voting for the 2027 elections will expand to 92 centers worldwide, with 58.5% in the United States and more sites than in 2024. Infrastructure Update: Work on San Salvador’s 3.5-kilometer cable car from Mejicanos to downtown is moving into a September logistics phase, with key components and tower installations scheduled across the month. Tourism Jobs: La Libertad Sur launched a funded “Embajadores y Guías Turísticos” program to train local guides, plus coffee-focused training in Santa Tecla. Coffee Spotlight: The Instituto Salvadoreño del Café announced the 2026 National Coffee Tasters Championship for October, with registration due Sept. 11. International Crime Spillover: U.S. authorities linked a Virginia stabbing case to a Salvadoran suspect, while separate reporting also ties an El Salvador national to a deadly boat capsizing in New York Harbor.

Violent Crime & Deportation Debate: Fairfax County police arrested 19-year-old Salvadoran Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos in the stabbing death of 42-year-old Carmen Lizet Puch near Great Falls Park, after authorities say he was released into the U.S. following an El Paso border arrest in 2024. US “Third-Country” Deportations: Liberia agreed to take up to 1,200 deportees from the U.S. over a year, with an initial group of 20 expected to arrive Thursday, as critics warn about legal and safety gaps. El Salvador Legal/Immigration Ripple: The deportation push also keeps attention on Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran wrongly deported last year, as U.S. prosecutors seek to revive his human-smuggling case. Local El Salvador Focus: El Salvador continues rolling out major infrastructure and innovation moves, including highway lighting and expanded AI infrastructure, while reporting highlights a sharp drop in homicides and rising public trust in police.

TPS Fallout in the U.S.: A federal judge cleared the Trump administration to end Ethiopia Temporary Protected Status, and the broader TPS rollback is now moving country by country, affecting about a million people. Local Impact on Salvadorans: New reporting highlights how immigration rules are tightening for Salvadorans too, including a Board of Immigration Appeals decision that can treat “advance parole” trips as legal departures that trigger long reentry bans. Court Fight Over a Salvadoran Deportation Case: The DOJ is appealing a judge’s dismissal of human smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran man mistakenly deported to El Salvador, arguing the prosecution was not vindictive. El Salvador Infrastructure: El Salvador has started a highway lighting push on the Carretera de Oro and other major corridors, targeting more than 100 km to improve safety. Security and Trust: El Salvador’s homicide rate reportedly plunged to 1.9 per 100,000 in 2024, and a Latinobarómetro survey says Salvadorans show the highest police confidence in Latin America. Bitcoin and Innovation Calendar: San Salvador is set to host major November events—Bitcoin Histórico, EmTech AI LatAm, and a Bitcoin Circular Economies Summit—positioning the country as a tech and crypto hub.

US Deportation Deal: Liberia says it will take up to 1,200 “third-country” deportees from the US, with the first 20 expected to arrive Thursday, under an agreement that frames returnees as “guests” who can leave if they choose. Courts & Immigration: The US Justice Department keeps pushing to revive human smuggling charges against Salvadoran “Maryland man” Kilmar Abrego Garcia after a judge dismissed the case as vindictive, arguing prosecutors had legitimate reasons and asking the 6th Circuit to overturn the ruling. TPS Fallout: USCIS updates show Somalia TPS termination is moving forward after a judge lifted a stay, while Sudan and Ukraine work authorization remains extended through Oct. 19 amid uncertainty for employers. Local Culture: Cuban duo Buena Fe’s “From Port to Port” tour continues after acclaimed stops in El Salvador and Guatemala, with more dates across Mexico. El Salvador Spotlight: A new piece touts El Salvador’s safety and tourism rebound under President Nayib Bukele, while another highlights the country’s growing AI push with an NVIDIA cluster at the national AI agency.

AI & Computing: El Salvador’s National AI Agency (ANIA) is rolling out a four-unit NVIDIA DGX Spark cluster to expand local AI development, aiming to give researchers and students high-performance computing without relying only on foreign infrastructure. Construction Boom: Cement imports hit a 30-year high as El Salvador’s construction sector surges, with first-half 2026 cement and clinker imports up sharply and new lending plus digital asset tokenization fueling growth. Infrastructure Update: The Los Chorros western highway mega-project is at 60% completion, with a planned weekend full closure for rock blasting tied to the Francisco Morazán Viaduct works. Justice & Immigration: The U.S. DOJ is asking a federal appeals court to reinstate human smuggling charges against Salvadoran Kilmar Abrego Garcia after a judge dismissed them as “vindictive,” arguing prosecutors had legitimate bases. Cross-Border Courts: The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts reported 243 opt-in cases in H1 2026, including at least one involving El Salvador, highlighting continued demand for cross-border dispute resolution.

Renewable Energy Push: El Salvador has started implementing its new regulatory framework for solar self-consumption, with DGEHM opening official procedures for authorizing providers and installing renewable systems, including rules for grid connection and surplus injection. Security & Community: A traveling mural festival is helping reclaim public spaces in El Salvador, with artists painting in areas once controlled by gangs after Bukele’s crackdown since 2022. Housing Milestone: Prime Minister Philip Davis handed keys to rent-to-own homes for 11 families in Cockburn Town, San Salvador, as part of a broader push to make homeownership more reachable. Regional Migration Pressure: U.S. TPS uncertainty remains in the spotlight, with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul warning that abruptly ending TPS would disrupt essential services and force layoffs. International Spotlight: Spain’s National Court granted conditional release on health grounds to former Salvadoran colonel Inocente Montano, convicted for the 1989 Jesuit murders.

Renewables Push: El Salvador has started rolling out its new rules for solar self-consumption, with DGEHM launching official procedures for authorizing providers and installing photovoltaic systems, including grid connection and surplus injection under the 2025 renewable energy law and 2026 SIGET regulation. Community & Security: In Concepción de Ataco, artists are “winning back the walls” with the Pigmen Trip mural festival, turning former gang-marked areas into public art and citing a more peaceful climate since the 2022 security crackdown. Local Tourism: Tahmek is gearing up for the Aug. 22-23 International Maya Paper Balloon Festival, expecting up to 20,000 visitors and featuring giant hand-crafted balloons, live music, and Salvadoran participation. Crypto Watch: Galaxy Digital says the CLARITY Act’s odds are down to 10% for 2026, with U.S. regulators potentially stepping in if the bill stalls. Sports Spotlight: Australia’s Wallabies name their squad for the Argentina tour, with several injury notes after a big win over Japan.

Colombia Earthquake Relief: A Kansas City group is collecting hygiene and cleanup supplies for Colombia after the 7.4 quake killed nearly 300 and left more than 140 missing, with donations expected to ship next week. U.S.-Immigration Court Update: A federal appeals ruling involving a Salvadoran man held that people who entered the U.S. without inspection are not covered by mandatory detention rules for “seeking admission,” directing cases under different law. Crypto Policy Debate: One op-ed argues banning crypto “isn’t working” and calls for regulation instead. Regional Politics & Security: Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella asked Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs as the country rebuilds, while broader coverage highlights the region’s rightward shift and growing U.S.-aligned anti-cartel posture. El Salvador in the Dollarization Story: A roundup notes El Salvador’s use of the U.S. dollar since 2001 and the trade-offs of losing independent monetary control.

Tariff Pressure After Quake: Colombia’s new President Abelardo de la Espriella asked Donald Trump to temporarily suspend U.S. tariffs on Colombian goods, saying the higher duties are adding strain as the country rebuilds after a deadly 7.4 earthquake. Disaster Response: The quake’s toll climbed to 288 deaths, with 202 people still missing, while rescue teams kept working across damaged areas. Regional Security Cooperation: Colombia also renewed calls for U.S. military support against drug cartels, as the “Shield of the Americas” push expands. Trade Deal Closer to Home: Belize and El Salvador signed a partial scope agreement after nearly three years, giving selected Belizean products preferential access to the Salvadoran market. Local Spotlight: El Salvadoran heritage is part of a new coffee business story in the U.S., where an 18-year-old opened Viva Barista Cafe in Winston-Salem.

Trade Deal: Belize and El Salvador signed a Partial Scope Agreement after nearly three years of talks, giving selected Belizean goods preferential access to the Salvadoran market and setting a framework to reduce tariffs and barriers. Security & Policy: El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly president Ernesto Castro will lead a delegation to visit China (Aug. 17–22), signaling continued diplomatic outreach. Economy & Tech: El Salvador continues to position itself as a regional innovation hub, including efforts using AI to streamline environmental assessments and water management, while new healthcare investment plans point to growing cross-border services. Public Safety & Justice: A U.S. appeals court shut down a Salvadoran man’s bid for torture protection under the Convention Against Torture, citing inconsistencies in his testimony. Regional Spotlight: In the wider Americas, Colombia’s earthquake response remains under strain as the death toll climbs, while Ecuador’s fishermen report being squeezed by cartels and threatened by U.S. strikes at sea. Culture: A new spotlight on Salvadoran figures and heritage continues, including coverage of Óscar Arnulfo Romero and renewed attention to the artist Salarrué.

Trade Deal: Belize and El Salvador signed a Partial Scope Agreement on Aug. 13, giving selected Belizean goods preferential access to the Salvadoran market after nearly three years of talks. Security Cooperation: El Salvador used an Americas Coalition Against Cartels (A3C) forum in Panama to push stronger regional coordination against cross-border organized crime and drug trafficking. Healthcare Investment: Mexican hospital chain 50 Doctors says it will expand into El Salvador, pitching new infrastructure and specialized services to President Nayib Bukele. Economy & Business: El Salvador reported 5.39% year-over-year economic growth in May, with construction leading, while tax enforcement and e-invoicing helped lift the tax burden to 22.1% of GDP. Public Services: A renovated Usulután Wholesale Market opened with modern facilities to improve food distribution. Tech & Environment: El Salvador rolled out SIMACC, an AI-backed system to streamline environmental assessments and water management. Culture & Society: A new study spotlights Salarrué’s theosophical and spiritual roots in El Salvador’s art history.