A new investigation reveals how thousands of immigrants connected to radical foreign political movements, including former Marxist guerrilla fighters, gained influential positions in American labor unions and worked on Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns.

FMLN Activists in Obama’s 2008 Campaign

According to research detailed by author Peter Schweizer, members of El Salvador’s Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) took active roles in Obama’s 2008 campaign. The FMLN began as a Marxist guerrilla organization before transitioning into a political party. These activists secured organizing positions within powerful unions including AFSCME, Change to Win, and SEIU between 2004 and 2009, with some receiving full-time paid campaign positions.

Research from a 2013 dissertation shows FMLN activists gained extensive experience in community and labor organizing through these major American unions. During a November 2008 Los Angeles rally, one activist declared the city “strategic for El Salvador” with over 800,000 Salvadorans, noting their political campaign efforts “started YEARS ago.”

High-Level Government Appointments

The activist organization CASA includes FMLN members in its leadership structure. Two CASA board members later achieved prominent government positions under Obama. Thomas Perez became Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights before eventually heading the Democratic National Committee. Cecilia Muñoz directed Obama’s Domestic Policy Council and later joined Biden’s transition team after the 2020 election.

Policy Changes and Continued Influence

In 2013, the Obama administration removed terrorism-related restrictions that previously blocked FMLN members from obtaining American citizenship or residency. This occurred despite acknowledging the FMLN’s history as a “Marxist-Leninist armed insurgency” backed by Cuba and classified as a “Tier III terrorist organization.” The investigation also documents continued political activities, including a 2016 meeting in San Salvador where American citizens and Salvadoran Embassy employees from Washington participated in discussions about migration challenges and celebrated Fidel Castro’s 90th birthday.