About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 1 (February 20, 2025)

handle is hein.crs/govesmz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: El Salvador's State of Exception and U.S. Interests February 20, 2025 Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele (2019-present) has implemented tougher security policies in El Salvador since 2022 in response to gang violence. The security policy that has garnered the most attention from observers is the state of exception, in which Salvadoran security forces have cracked down on individuals suspected of being gang members or affiliates, resulting in mass detentions. While Bukele's government claims the state of exception has improved security in El Salvador by significantly reducing gang violence and homicides, some human rights advocates have reported abuses under the policy. Some Members of the 118th Congress acknowledged the effectiveness of the Bukele government's security policies. Some Members raised concerns about possible associated human rights violations. Hearings on the effects of the state of exception were held in the 117th and 118t Congresses. Members of the 119th Congress may be interested in evaluating the Salvadoran government's security policies and their implications for U.S. interests. State of Exception Since the 1990s, gangs with origins in Southern California have undermined citizen security in El Salvador through local drug distribution, extortion, money laundering, and weapons smuggling. Gang- related violence has contributed to irregular migration from the country. When negotiations between Bukele officials and gang leaders failed and a deadly outbreak of violence occurred in March 2022, Bukele called for a 30-day state of exception, which the Legislative Assembly approved. The security measure-which was most recently extended for the 35th time until March 6, 2025-allows Salvadoran security forces to arrest anyone suspected of belonging to or aiding gangs. Under the state of exception, certain constitutionally protected civil liberties have been suspended, including the rights to free association and assembly, due process, and access to legal counsel. Authorities reportedly have carried out mass arrests and lengthy detentions of suspects while presenting little or no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. From March 2022 through January 29, 2025, Salvadoran authorities reported that they detained 84,000 individuals allegedly associated with criminal groups. In November 2024, Bukele stated that 8,000 innocent individuals detained under the state of exception had been released. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN12510 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most