El Salvador extends detention of suspected gang members
El Salvador Extends 2027 Deadline for Mass Gang Trials
The Legislative Assembly, dominated by President Nayib Bukele’s ruling party, approved a reform that pushes the legal deadline for prosecuting thousands of suspected gang members until 2027. The law, which governs investigations into organized crime, came on Friday—just ten days before a two‑year window for filing charges would close.
Key Points of the Reform
- Attorney General’s Office deadline – Defendants must be charged within 24 months, with a 12‑month extension available.
- Single case grouping – Each gang’s members will be grouped into one case, focusing on the Barrio 18 and Mara Salva‑trucha (MS‑13) gangs.
- Mass trial schedule – Roughly 600 trials will be conducted, with 300 prosecutors presenting evidence.
Trial Structure
The Attorney General, Rodolfo Delgado, told a congressional security committee that trials will be divided by organization, area of operation, or alleged crimes. The reforms allow a judge to issue a ruling if no new defendants are added within two years, and to dismiss a case if prosecutors fail to file an indictment within three years.
Opposition Concerns
Opposition lawmaker Francisco Lira warned that “innocent” people could be tried, estimating that up to 40 percent of the detainees might be innocent. Lira added that delayed processing “is causing more time in prison” for those who might be not involved with gangs.
Claudia Ortiz echoed the sentiment, describing the reforms as a clear “reflection of the lack of capacity possessed by the institutions that are supposed to administer justice in our country.” She criticized the failure to fully investigate facts over a two‑year period.
Global Reactions
President Bukele’s hardline strategy against powerful gangs has earned him significant domestic popularity. International human rights organizations, however, sound alarms over arbitrary arrests, growing authoritarianism, and the lack of due process for many of the detained individuals.
El Salvador’s mass trial extension marks a pivotal moment in the country’s ongoing struggle to confront organized crime while balancing the demands of justice, human rights, and legal integrity.
