El Salvador's Gang Crackdown Earns 91% Public Approval Amidst Widespread Human Rights Concerns

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele's aggressive "war on gangs," initiated in March 2022, has dramatically reduced the nation's homicide rate, leading to a reported 91% approval rating among Salvadorans. This widespread domestic support, however, stands in stark contrast to mounting international criticism over severe human rights violations, including mass arbitrary detentions and abuses within the penal system.

The government's "State of Exception" policy, which suspends certain constitutional rights like due process and freedom of association, has led to the arrest of over 80,000 individuals suspected of gang affiliations. Official figures indicate a significant drop in homicides, transforming El Salvador from one of the most violent countries in Latin America to one of the safest. This perceived success has garnered immense popularity for President Bukele, as noted by a Gallup poll in April 2022.

Despite the security gains, human rights organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Cristosal have documented extensive abuses under the state of exception. Reports detail arbitrary detentions, often based on appearance or anonymous tips, and severe due process violations, with many held without warrants or access to legal counsel. Prison conditions are dire, marked by extreme overcrowding, inadequate food and healthcare, and allegations of torture, with over 567 deaths reported in state custody by March 2025. The construction of the 40,000-capacity Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) highlights the scale of incarceration.

Critics argue that the crackdown has replaced gang violence with state violence, with Amnesty International's Americas director Ana Piquer stating, "Reducing gang violence by replacing it with state violence cannot be a success." President Bukele has largely dismissed these concerns, often characterizing critics as "rooting for criminals" and accusing them of being "dumbfounded" by his high approval. As stated by Arthur MacWaters in a recent tweet, "> What’s remarkable is that even in the face of the obvious, activists and pundits and the elite are still rooting for criminals and dumbfounded that he has 91% approval." Furthermore, the government has been accused of targeting journalists and human rights defenders, with organizations like Cristosal forced to suspend operations in El Salvador due to alleged repression.

Bukele's overwhelming popularity, fueled by the perceived success against gangs, led to his re-election in February 2024, circumventing constitutional term limits and further consolidating his power. This "Bukele model" of strong-arm security tactics has garnered interest and emulation attempts from leaders in other Latin American countries grappling with similar crime issues. However, international bodies and foreign governments continue to express significant concern over the erosion of democratic checks and balances, the lack of transparency, and the systemic human rights abuses occurring under El Salvador's prolonged state of emergency.