Around one in 50 Salvadorans were being held in confinement by 2026, giving El Salvador the world’s highest imprisonment rate. The figure follows a 2022 gang massacre that led President Nayib Bukele to declare a state of emergency and suspend certain constitutional protections, after which many suspected gang members were detained. Those detention patterns, together with the removal of presidential term limits, have reshaped Salvadoran politics and altered the country’s appeal to tourists and tech investors.

The crackdown and how it began

In late March 2022, a coordinated wave of killings by MS-13 shocked El Salvador. The attacks killed dozens in a short period and forced a political response. President Nayib Bukele asked parliament for emergency powers. Lawmakers granted them. The government suspended certain constitutional protections to allow mass arrests.

Security forces moved fast. Checkpoints sprang up across the country. Police and soldiers stopped buses and checked for gang tattoos. Authorities detained more than 10,000 alleged gang affiliates in just over two weeks. The sweep included children and people who had not faced trial.

By 2026 the state of emergency had entered its fourth year. Around one in 50 Salvadorans were being held in confinement. Human rights monitors and a legal study flagged the scale of the detentions as alarming and said they may amount to crimes against humanity. Bukele himself acknowledged that thousands of people not involved in gang activity had been swept up.

What changed on the streets

Crime statistics and public perceptions shifted sharply. El Salvador went from having one of the highest murder rates in the region to being widely perceived as safer. Streets once avoided at night are now busier. Public spaces have been refurbished.

Some local business owners point to the security measures as a reason for renewed footfall and commerce.

At the same time, critics say the crackdown has narrowed civic space. Journalists, activists and members of civil society have reported arrests, intimidation or forced exile. Balancing public safety and legal safeguards has become a central debate in Salvadoran life.

Popularity and political consolidation

Bukele’s approval ratings have soared. A January poll put his support near 92%. Many Salvadorans credit him for restoring order. Supporters portray the measures as necessary to wrest control from armed gangs that once governed large swathes of the country.

Political changes followed the security drive. The president moved to remove checks on executive power. Term limits for the presidency were scrapped. Opponents warn that such steps weaken democratic oversight. Supporters argue the moves allow stable governance and longer-term projects.

Mastheads

Tourism and the tech pitch

Bukele has also tried to reposition El Salvador economically. He has promoted a coastal development called Surf City as a tourist draw. The government has sought to brand the country as a destination for holidaymakers and tech entrepreneurs. Safer streets are central to that pitch.

Officials say the security gains make investment and tourism more likely. Private-sector figures in the capital report more customers and new economic activity. Yet investors and entrepreneurs often weigh other factors too, such as rule of law and political stability. The long-term response of foreign businesses will depend on a mix of safety, legal predictability and the global economic climate.

Bukele’s model has drawn attention across Latin America. Politicians and voters frustrated by violence and weak state capacity have shown interest in his approach. The combination of tough security measures and high domestic popularity has prompted calls in other countries for similar policies.

That interest raises broader questions about democratic norms in the region. If other governments adopt similar mixes of emergency powers and constitutional change, there could be lasting shifts in governance across national borders. International organisations and legal scholars have already expressed concern about detention practices and human rights.

Human-rights organisations and legal analysts have criticised the scale and methods of detention. The mass arrests, prolonged confinement without normal judicial processes, and complaints about mistreatment are central to those critiques. One legal study said the arrests may have led to crimes against humanity.

Authorities argue the measures were aimed at restoring public safety after a particularly violent episode. They say the steps were temporary and demanded by the security crisis. But the extension of emergency powers into a multi-year programme has changed how the state handles criminality and dissent.

The most obvious victims are alleged gang members and their families. Many face long periods in custody without conviction.

Children have been detained alongside adults. Civil society figures and journalists report pressure that limits their ability to operate freely.

Ordinary citizens are also affected. Many feel safer. That sense of safety has economic consequences. People who had avoided night-time travel now go out. Tourism promoters use quieter streets to sell the country to foreign visitors. At the same time, the rule-of-law concerns can deter some investors who prioritise legal certainty and human-rights standards.

The security campaign has become a tool of governance. High approval gives Bukele a strong political base. It also reduces the day-to-day cost of controversial policies. With broad public backing, the administration can change institutions, such as removing term limits, with less internal resistance.

That concentration of power changes how policy is made. Projects tied to the president can move faster. Checks from opposition parties, independent judges or watchdogs have less sway. For a country seeking rapid economic change, that speed can be appealing. But the same dynamic makes people wonder about accountability and oversight.

Some international actors have raised alarms over the human-rights record. Those concerns focus on prolonged detention, due process, and the treatment of suspects. The debate pits improved public security against international legal norms and standards of governance.

For countries weighing cooperation with El Salvador, the trade-offs are practical. Governments and firms must decide whether gains in safety outweigh risks tied to diminished legal protections. That calculus will shape diplomatic ties, aid programmes and business relationships.

Related Articles

With presidential term limits removed and polls showing support above 90%, Bukele now has the leeway to reshape Salvadoran institutions, a consolidation that could complicate relations with investors and rights groups.

This article was created with AI assistance.