Backed by an exceptional regime decreed by Congress on March 27 at the request of Bukele, the security offensive has detained gang members without a warrant who, since March 28, have stopped the escalation of homicides.
On April 26, a 30-day extension of the emergency regime came into force, a measure that also restricts freedom of association, the right to defense, extends the term of detentions while investigations are carried out and allows communications to be intercepted.
At the request of the president, Congress, controlled by the ruling party, also approved in early April a reform to punish gang members with up to 45 years in prison.
The reform also includes punishing the dissemination of gang messages in the media with up to 15 years in prison.
El Salvador suffers the siege of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18, among others, which add up to 70,000 members, of which with the arrest offensive now a little more than 46,000 are incarcerated.