At least 504 people have died in prisons under state custody in El Salvador between April 2022 and March 2026, according to a report by Socorro Jurídico Humanitario (SJH), intensifying international concern over the country’s prolonged state of exception. The emergency measure, introduced on March 27, 2022, allows for the suspension of key constitutional rights as part of the government’s anti-crime strategy, and has now been extended 49 times by the Legislative Assembly.
The SJH report challenges official narratives, stating that 90 percent of those who died in custody did not match profiles typically associated with gang membership. The organization warns that due to limited transparency and restricted access to detention facilities, the true number of deaths could be as high as 2,000. Accounts from relatives describe bodies returned with visible signs of physical abuse, while the report links the deaths to broader patterns of torture, severe overcrowding, and lack of adequate medical care in prisons.
The findings have drawn criticism from the United Nations, whose panel of experts recently accused the government of possible crimes against humanity tied to enforcement of the state of exception. The policy was originally implemented following a surge in violence that left more than 80 people dead in a single weekend, an event some investigations suggest was linked to the collapse of prior arrangements between authorities and gang groups.
Under President Nayib Bukele, the government maintains that the crackdown has achieved a historic reduction in homicides and continues to enjoy strong public support, estimated at around 85 percent. However, human rights advocates argue that declining crime trends had already been observed years before the current administration took office, raising questions about the necessity and proportionality of the measures.
Humanitarian organizations report a total of 91,650 detentions under the emergency regime, accompanied by 6,889 complaints of human rights violations. Of these, 98 percent involve alleged arbitrary detention, while 75 percent reportedly implicate members of the National Civil Police. Legal experts and activists warn that the continued suspension of constitutional guarantees risks undermining the rule of law and eroding judicial independence.
Families of detainees have also raised concerns over authorities ignoring court-ordered releases, further fueling accusations of systemic breakdown. Representatives of victim groups describe a climate of fear and silence, claiming that four years into the emergency, there has been little accountability or response from the government. As the policy continues, the debate intensifies between those who credit it for improved security and those who warn of its growing human cost.
