More than 500 inmates have died in El Salvador’s prisons since 2022, when the government launched the so-called “war on gangs.” A now-leaked internal police report also claims that 94% of those individuals had no proven ties to criminal organizations.
The document also warns of possible abuses and maneuvers to conceal deaths within the prison system, adding another layer of scandal to the management of prison policy under a government that, despite everything, secured electoral support exceeding 80% in the most recent elections.
The information, which was not intended to be made public, directly challenges the official narrative surrounding the security strategy promoted by President Nayib Bukele.
Although his policy has drastically reduced homicides and consolidated broad public support, the leak raises questions about prison conditions and respect for the basic rights of detainees, reopening once again the debate over whether the end justifies the means.
Over 500 inmates die in El Salvador’s prisons under Bukele since 2022
Since March 2022, when the Legislative Assembly approved the state of exception, security forces have detained tens of thousands of people in mass operations. The stated goal was to dismantle the gangs that for years controlled territories and kept the country among the most violent in the world. However, the rapid increase in the prison population has placed the penitentiary system under extreme strain.
The leaked report describes a scenario of overcrowding, lack of medical care, and precarious conditions in several detention centers. In that context, deaths in custody not only multiplied, but in many cases may not have been properly investigated. The figure of more than 500 deaths since 2022 marks a turning point in the public debate.
The most controversial finding of the report is the conclusion that 94% of the deceased inmates had no proven links to gangs. This claim calls into question one of the pillars of the official narrative, which maintains that mass arrests have been directed at members of criminal organizations.
Human rights organizations have, since the beginning of the state of exception, denounced the arrest of individuals without sufficient evidence, often based on anonymous tips or broad profiling. The leak of the police report reinforces those criticisms and suggests that a significant portion of those who died in prison may have been detained without solid justification.
As such, the leak of this report calls into question the legality of the arrests while also raising questions about the state’s responsibility in the deaths of individuals who, according to the document itself, were not part of criminal organizations.
Allegations of abuses and official response
The report also gathers indications of abuses within prison facilities. Although it does not detail specific cases in every record, it does point to patterns suggesting mistreatment, medical negligence, and conditions incompatible with basic human rights standards.
Some of the deaths, according to the document, could be linked to lack of care or to the deterioration of inmates’ health in overcrowded environments. Possible irregularities in official death records are also mentioned, fueling suspicions of attempts to conceal or downplay the scale of the crisis.
These allegations are not new, but they carry greater weight coming from an internal police report. Until now, many of the complaints had been driven by non-governmental organizations or by relatives of detainees. The leak introduces an institutional voice into that debate.
The Salvadoran government has not confirmed the content of the report, but it has repeatedly defended its security strategy. Officials have insisted that the measures adopted were necessary to regain control of the country and guarantee public safety.
President Bukele has built much of his political capital on the results of this policy. The reduction in homicides and the perception of increased security have been central elements of his discourse. In that context, any questioning of the management of the prison system takes on significant political dimension.
So far, the official response has tended to discredit allegations of abuses or arbitrary detentions, arguing that they are part of campaigns to weaken the security strategy. However, the leak of an internal report could complicate that line of defense.
It’s interesting to see how so many media outlets, politicians, and representatives of international NGOs lie so blatantly about El Salvador.
Anyone who has visited our country knows that tattoos are not only allowed, but very common. Many Salvadorans have them, even in highly… pic.twitter.com/rtgFAWtqbG
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) April 27, 2026