NewsSOS
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.
Keep reading