In an effort to combat the surging gang violence, El Salvador's government implemented a state of exception that has garnered support for President Nayib Bukele while simultaneously raising concerns about human rights violations and the country's skyrocketing incarceration rates.

Since the declaration of a state of emergency in March 2022, El Salvador has temporarily relaxed arrest rules and suspended basic rights, including freedom of speech and protest rights. This policy has made the country much safer for residents, enabling them to freely move around previously gang-controlled neighborhoods. As a result, the murder rate has dramatically declined from one of the highest in the world to one of the lowest in the region.

However, this crackdown has come at a steep cost. El Salvador's incarceration rate is now the highest in the world, with over 76,000 individuals arrested for alleged gang affiliations or associations. Shockingly, even relatives of gang members have been targeted and charged with collaborating with criminal groups. Human rights organizations are asserting that innocent individuals have been wrongfully charged amid the mass arrests while also pointing out the deaths of hundreds of individuals who were detained under suspicious circumstances, indicating potential state responsibility.

Critics allege that police carried out arrests to meet quotas without conducting proper investigations into the individuals they were detaining. Disturbingly, many of these arrests took place in the poorest and most marginalized areas of the country, causing a shift in the fear from gangs to police and soldiers. Human rights groups have reported that individuals were arrested merely for appearing suspicious, such as acting nervous or displaying tattoos.

The surge in arrests has overwhelmed El Salvador's penitentiary system, which had held 37,000 detainees and suddenly faced a burden of over 70,000. As a result, the system collapsed, leaving thousands of detainees' relatives anxiously waiting outside prisons for information about their loved ones. Many experienced hunger and endured harsh weather conditions without receiving any updates.

Additionally, disturbing allegations of torture within the prisons have emerged. A report by Human Rights Watch, Cristosal, and Socorro Jurídico documents numerous accounts of torture and beatings by prison security members. Former prisoners have recounted anonymous stories of being subjected to unconsciousness-inducing beatings, denial of food and medical attention, and other forms of mistreatment.

Government officials have denied the allegations of torture and other violations of freedom of expression. However, as time goes on, more prisoners die, many with indications of torture. The relatives of these deceased individuals continue to demand justice, but the process has been slow. Meanwhile, the government continues to extend the law that has resulted in thousands of arrests and the deaths of 224 incarcerated people to date.

El Salvador's tough crime crackdown may have brought temporary respite from gang violence and garnered popularity for President Bukele. However, it has also raised significant concerns about human rights violations, allegations of torture, overcrowded prisons, and questions about the legitimacy of the arrests. It remains to be seen how the government will address these concerns and find a balance between maintaining public safety and upholding individual rights.