El Salvador plan seeks release of half of gang crackdown detainees

A plan to conditionally release up to half of the more than 90,000 people detained during a state of emergency was announced by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Tuesday night. The proposal targets individuals classified as gang collaborators, a designation that encompasses roles ranging from lookouts to those who pay extortion fees. Bukele stated that while these individuals committed crimes, the act of collaborating with gangs is not uncommon in the country, noting that arresting everyone involved would require detaining 20% of the population.

The state of emergency was declared in March 2022 after a surge in violence resulted in more than 60 deaths in a single day. Initially set for 30 days, the measure has been repeatedly extended. Authorities maintain the emergency is necessary to control rival gangs MS-13 and Barrio 18. During this period, the government has suspended or restricted constitutional protections, including the right to be informed of detention reasons, access to legal counsel, and visitation rights.

Bukele indicated that authorities will analyze cases to determine eligibility for early release with monitoring. He did not provide specific details on the criteria for these releases. The president defended the continuation of the state of emergency while expressing a goal to end it eventually. He dismissed criticism from human rights groups, suggesting they should support victims of gang violence rather than the detainees.

Human rights organizations have documented significant abuses during the emergency. They have recorded more than 6,000 complaints and verified the deaths of at least 575 people in government custody. These groups argue that releasing prisoners is insufficient without compensation for physical and mental harm, family suffering, and loss of work or education. Exiled Salvadoran lawyer Bertha Deleón stated on X that victims of arbitrary detention deserve compensation for reputational damage and other harms caused by the state.

Government figures show a dramatic decline in El Salvador's homicide rate over the past decade. The rate fell from a peak of more than 100 murders per 100,000 residents in 2015 to 1.3 per 100,000 in 2025. However, the government has narrowed its definition of homicide to exclude killings by police, murders in prisons, and bodies found in unmarked graves. This reduction in violence has contributed to El Salvador becoming a more appealing tourist destination.