The National Security Archives have helped explain and uncover the level of involvement of the United States government in Latin America's "Dirty Wars". The Archives obtained and published declassified U.S. documents related to this period through Freedom of Information Act requests and litigation. These documents revealed how the U.S. provided support to repressive regimes in Latin America as they sought to eliminate left-wing groups. The publication of these documents by the Archives helped educate the public and shape debates around this controversial period in history.