The High Human Cost Of El Salvador’s Bukele-Led Crackdown On Crime

The Salvadoran government’s sweeping crackdown on gangs under President Nayib Bukele has led to a dramatic expansion of the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), where tens of thousands of detainees—many without trial—have been held since 2022. But the human cost of this policy, now entering its fourth year, is increasingly drawing scrutiny from human rights organizations, international observers and even U.S. Immigration authorities. A recent investigation by The New York Times reveals how the Bukele administration’s zero-tolerance approach has ensnared innocent civilians, activists, and critics, with families of the disappeared demanding answers.

At the center of the controversy is the case of Kilmar Armando Abrego García, a 36-year-old Salvadoran woman whose husband, a former anti-corruption prosecutor, vanished after publicly denouncing government overreach. According to The New York Times, Abrego García’s disappearance in 2023 followed a pattern: dozens of activists, journalists, and relatives of detainees have reported being detained without charge, often after posting critical remarks on social media or organizing protests. While the Salvadoran government insists the CECOT is a necessary tool to combat violent gangs, which have plagued the country for decades, human rights groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented cases of arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings.

U.S. Immigration authorities have also raised concerns. In recent months, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has begun scrutinizing Salvadoran asylum seekers arriving at the southern border, questioning whether their claims of persecution are tied to Bukele’s crackdown. A senior ICE official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The New York Times that cases involving alleged gang affiliations are being reviewed with “heightened skepticism,” particularly when applicants cite fear of the CECOT. The U.S. State Department has yet to issue a formal travel advisory, but diplomats acknowledge the “growing evidence” of abuses.

The CECOT, which now holds over 70,000 detainees—far exceeding its original capacity—operates under a state of emergency declared in 2022. Critics argue the system lacks due process, with detainees held for months without legal representation or access to family. A 2025 report by Human Rights Watch found that at least 30% of those detained had no confirmed gang ties, including minors and individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions. The Salvadoran government has dismissed these claims as “misinformation,” pointing to a purported 60% reduction in homicides since the crackdown began.

Yet the human toll persists. Families of the disappeared, including Abrego García’s relatives, have organized vigils outside the CECOT, demanding transparency. In a statement to The New York Times, one activist, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, said: “They take people without proof, and then they disappear them. We don’t even know if they’re alive.” The Salvadoran government has not responded to specific allegations of abuse, though President Bukele has repeatedly defended the CECOT as a “temporary” measure to restore order.

International pressure is mounting. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has called for an independent investigation into the CECOT’s operations, while the European Union has paused aid negotiations until reforms are implemented. Meanwhile, U.S. Lawmakers, including Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), have introduced legislation to condition Salvadoran military assistance on human rights compliance. “The Bukele government’s actions are eroding the rule of law,” Menendez said in a statement. “We cannot turn a blind eye to these abuses.”

As El Salvador prepares for legislative elections in 2027, the CECOT’s future remains uncertain. While Bukele’s popularity remains high among Salvadorans weary of gang violence, the international backlash and growing domestic dissent suggest the crackdown’s sustainability is far from guaranteed. For families like the Abrego Garcias, however, the question is no longer whether the policy works—but at what cost.

For those seeking information on missing persons in El Salvador, the Amnesty International El Salvador page and the Human Rights Watch El Salvador reports provide resources and contact details for legal assistance.