In El Salvador, a significant legal development is underway as the government pushes forward with mass trials against around 91,000 individuals detained under a state of exception that has lasted four years. This situation has escalated following President Nayib Bukele’s controversial deal with former President Donald Trump, which involved the imprisonment of deportees accused of gang affiliations.
As of April 7, 2026, the Salvadoran government has approved life imprisonment for gang members, including minors, further intensifying the crackdown on gang violence. The attorney general’s office has promised 3,000 indictments in the first quarter of the year, aiming to process alleged gang members in large groups.
Among those detained is Williams Díaz, who was arrested while commuting to work and is now awaiting trial in a mega-prison designed for gang members. Similarly, Jonathan, a 24-year-old maquila worker, finds himself grouped with about 80 others in a Mara Salvatrucha clique.
Critics of the mass trials, including organizations like Human Rights Watch, have raised alarms over the lack of basic guarantees of due process, increasing the risk of convicting innocent individuals. An anonymous lawyer stated, “From the moment they group them together, they are declaring them guilty.” This sentiment echoes the fears expressed by detainees and their families.
Reports indicate that the reforms to the organized crime law have eliminated crucial hearings where evidence is evaluated, further jeopardizing the rights of the accused. As Reynaldo Santos, a detainee, described the situation, “It is Russian roulette, anguish, an ordeal.”
Human Rights Watch has documented numerous detentions triggered by anonymous calls and neighborhood disputes, raising questions about the validity of the arrests. The Salvadoran government, led by Bukele, maintains significant control over all branches of the state and continues to enjoy popularity for its aggressive stance against gang terror, despite increasing reports of wrongful arrests.
As the trials proceed, the implications are dire. Approximately 20,000 detainees are being processed in mass trials, with some facing sentences of up to 30 years in prison. Gladis Villatoro, a family member of a detainee, remarked, “Some will pay for others. If they convict one, they convict the whole group.” This highlights the collective punishment that many fear will result from the current judicial practices.
Additionally, there have been over 500 reported deaths in prisons under the state of exception, raising further concerns about the treatment of detainees. The exact number of wrongful arrests remains unclear, and details of the deal between Trump and Bukele are still unconfirmed.
The documentary “The Deal: Trump, Bukele & the Gangs of El Salvador” is set to premiere today, shedding light on these critical issues and the ongoing crisis in the country.
