State of Exception and mass incarceration under Bukele
2022–ongoing
Verified 21 May 2026 · Data dated 21 May 2026
Fresh · 8d ago
Since March 2022 El Salvador has been under a continuous 'state of exception' that suspends key procedural rights, allowing mass arrest of suspected gang members. The prison population has tripled, making El Salvador the world's most-incarcerated country (per capita) by a wide margin. The mega-prison CECOT, opened in 2023, holds 40,000+ people in conditions widely criticised by Human Rights Watch and the UN.
Outcomes
Homicide rates have fallen sharply but tens of thousands of arrests appear to have swept up people with no gang ties. Long-term sustainability and human-rights costs are disputed.
Sources
Last verified 21 May 2026. This is editorial; we hand-curate this section. Spotted an error? Submit a correction.