Arrest of Students Alleged for Involvement in Criminal Gang Operations in El Salvador
El Salvador's ongoing crackdown on gangs, led by President Nayib Bukele, has been a significant and far-reaching initiative since the collapse of a truce with gangs like MS-13 in March 2022. The nationwide “state of exception” declared by Bukele suspended constitutional protections, enabling police and military to detain tens of thousands of alleged gang members and collaborators.
According to official figures, approximately **87,000 people** have been imprisoned as part of this crackdown. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the detention of innocent individuals and the erosion of civil liberties, despite the sharp reduction in homicide rates.[1][2]
Bukele's approach has garnered domestic popularity, yet it has drawn international human rights criticism. The President himself has dismissed these complaints, emphasising the importance of security over individual rights.[1][2]
Recent reports from 2025 do not confirm the emergence of student-led gangs as part of or as a result of the crackdown. The focus has remained on traditional gangs such as MS-13 and Barrio 18, with violent conflicts between them continuing, particularly over drug sales in the capital.[4]
The government has faced criticism for allegedly impeding investigations and diverting funds, with allegations of corruption related to MS-13. However, Bukele denies any agreements with gangs.[1] The crackdown coincides with the Trump administration’s deportations of alleged gang members to El Salvador, adding complexity to the security situation.[3]
In a recent development, on June 30, 2025, the government announced the arrest of dozens of high school students for allegedly seeking to form a criminal gang. The high school gang, which operated in three schools, was identified as a criminal organization during the same press conference where the arrests were announced.[5]
Details regarding the charges against the minors and adults arrested in the high school gang case remain unclear. The Attorney General, Rodolfo Delgado, stated that 46 students were arrested last week, including 14 minors.[5]
This ongoing crackdown on gangs in El Salvador, with its significant impact and controversy, continues to evolve, and further developments are eagerly anticipated.
[1] Human Rights Watch (2022) El Salvador: Crackdown on Gangs Fuels Abuses. [Online] Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/06/23/el-salvador-crackdown-gangs-fuels-abuses
[2] Amnesty International (2022) El Salvador: Crackdown on gangs must not be at the expense of human rights. [Online] Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/06/el-salvador-crackdown-on-gangs-must-not-be-at-the-expense-of-human-rights/
[3] The Guardian (2022) El Salvador: Trump-era deportations fuel gang violence, report finds. [Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/28/el-salvador-trump-era-deportations-fuel-gang-violence-report-finds
[4] The New York Times (2022) El Salvador’s War on Gangs Hits a New Level. [Online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/14/world/americas/el-salvador-gangs.html
[5] El Salvador's Attorney General's Office (2025) Press Release: Arrest of High School Students for Alleged Gang Formation. [Online] Available at: https://www.pgr.gob.sv/noticias/detalle/arresto-de-estudiantes-de-secundaria-por-sospechas-de-formacion-de-grupo-delincuencial/
In light of the ongoing crackdown on traditional gangs such as MS-13 and Barrio 18, there are allegations of the emergence of student-led gangs, although recent reports don't confirm their existence as a result of the crackdown. The government's approach towards general-news issues like crime-and-justice and politics has sparked discussions on civil liberties and human rights violations.
