El Salvador Roundup: School courtesy rules, Bukele’s global standing, tourism rise

U.S. Homeland Security chief slams release of Salvadoran immigrant

The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, has sharply criticised the release of Salvadoran immigrant Kilmar Ábrego García from a Tennessee prison on Friday, August 22. Ábrego, accused by U.S. prosecutors of human trafficking, was freed while his trial continues. Noem, writing on X, accused the judge of showing “total contempt for the security of the American people” and vowed that the Trump Administration would keep pressing for his removal. Officials have alleged links to gangs, though these have not been proven in court.

Bukele defends school courtesy regulation amid criticism

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has defended the new “Regulation for the Promotion of School Courtesy,” which takes effect on September 1. The policy, introduced by Education Minister Karla Trigueros, sets out demerits for students who fail to use basic phrases like “Good morning,” “Please,” and “Thank you.” Penalties range from verbal warnings to the suspension of privileges or, in extreme cases, non-promotion. Redemption measures will allow students to regain points through positive actions. Responding to criticism, Bukele said detractors could “return to the indifference of before, like when they did not care what happened here when they killed 30 Salvadorans daily.”

Bukele tops global popularity rankings

President Bukele has been named the most popular leader in the world, with 91% citizen approval, according to surveys from Morning Consult, WCIOM, and Gallup. He surpassed Vladimir Putin (79%), Narendra Modi (72%), and Donald Trump (45%). Bukele’s enduring popularity is attributed to tough security policies such as the #PlanControlTerritorial and the mega-prison #CECOT, alongside social measures that resonate with parents and teachers.

El Salvador ranked among fastest-growing tourism destinations

The Telegraph Travel has highlighted El Salvador’s emergence as a leading tourism destination, based on UN Tourism data. The country ranked third globally in growth between 2019 and 2024, behind only Qatar and Albania. Once the world’s most violent country with a homicide rate of 106.3 per 100,000 in 2015, El Salvador now records 1.9 per 100,000. Safer streets have driven a record 3.2 million visitors in 2024, including 1.2 million Americans. The UN Tourism barometer ranks El Salvador second worldwide and first in the Western Hemisphere among the best-performing destinations of 2024.

Road safety concerns as motorcyclists, pedestrians dominate fatalities

Data from the National Road Safety Observatory shows 758 deaths in traffic accidents between January 1 and August 22, 2025 — down from 840 in the same period of 2024. However, injuries increased to 8,265.  80% of fatalities were motorcyclists (303 deaths) and pedestrians (302 deaths). Officials reported 13,611 accidents, up 9% from last year, with main causes including distracted driving (261 deaths), speeding (156 deaths), and lane invasion (104 deaths).