William Acosta for Poder & Dinero and FinGurú
Introduction
For a short period of time, significant political and social changes have affected El Salvador. The transition has been so rapid that what was originally an idea has transformed into something else. The country’s president, Bukele, has been the main driver of these changes, and any historical narrative must focus on the achievements and consequences of his leadership during this brief period in office. During this time, his administration has implemented a handful of very drastic changes and applied a rather aggressive set of security policies.
The goal, it seems, is immediate
to reduce crime in the country in the most visible and impactful way possible. This is the appearance, the official version defended from the Presidential House, and it is all that can be ventilated without falling into the quagmire of defamation.
Security Policies and Crime Reduction
President Nayib Bukele's administration in El Salvador has attracted much attention and debate, both domestically and internationally, regarding the effectiveness and ethical ramifications of the policies being implemented.
National security is one of the most pressing issues for Bukele's government. El Salvador has seen not only that "violence" (homicides, for example) has decreased significantly but also that "peace" has taken hold of new spaces in the country.
The sense of peace and the very recent construction of a safe environment in El Salvador seems to be linked to the implementation of a 2016 law and a state of emergency that Bukele declared in March 2022.
Democratic Backsliding and Human Rights Concerns
Despite these security achievements, Bukele's administration has raised alarms about democratic backsliding. The government has consolidated power, significantly diminishing space for dissent and criticism (Freedom House, 2024). Reports indicate that the administration has attempted to intimidate independent media, civil society organizations, and other entities exercising constitutional rights to protest and free expression (Human Rights Watch, 2023; Freedom House, 2024). This environment has become the “new normal” in El Salvador, with new laws threatening to further criminalize dissent and deepen the country’s authoritarian turn, possibly in contravention of international human rights obligations (Human Rights Watch, 2023).
Economic Inequality and Social Justice
In the economic realm, although foreign investment has increased during Bukele's term, the distribution of these benefits remains uneven. Rural and impoverished populations continue to face great hardships, exacerbated by the economic recession following the COVID-19 pandemic and the prolonged neglect of essential public services (World Bank, 2024). This situation raises ethical concerns about investing in a country where prison conditions have been widely criticized as inhumane, and where many detainees—some possibly innocent—are subjected to treatment that disregards basic human rights (Amnesty International, 2023).
Implications of Receiving Criminals from the United States
The recent agreement between El Salvador and the United States, in which El Salvador offers to house violent American criminals and deportees of any nationality in its mega-prison, introduces a series of legal, ethical, and humanitarian concerns (CNN, 2025; BBC, 2025). While President Bukele presents this measure as a solution to prison overcrowding in the U.S. and a financial opportunity for El Salvador, critics highlight several serious implications:
• Legal and Constitutional Challenges: U.S. law prohibits the deportation of its own citizens to be imprisoned abroad, and the agreement is likely to face legal challenges related to due process, the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishments according to the Eighth Amendment, and the rights of detainees (Brennan Center, 2025; PBS, 2025).
• Human Rights Risks: Salvadoran prisons are already known for overcrowding and severe conditions. International organizations warn that transferring U.S. prisoners—many without adequate legal review—could expose them to arbitrary detention, torture, or inhumane treatment, violating international human rights standards (OHCHR, 2025; Human Rights Watch, 2023).
• Transparency and Accountability: The lack of clarity and transparency about who is being deported and under what legal grounds raises concerns about accountability, the presumption of innocence, and the right to family life (DW, 2025).
• Precedent for Outsourcing Incarceration: This agreement could set a precedent for other countries to “outsource” their prison populations, fundamentally altering international criminal justice and immigration policy, while potentially undermining democratic principles (SAIS Review, 2025).
• Impact on the Salvadoran Prison System: With El Salvador already holding the highest incarceration rate in the world, the influx of more prisoners could further strain the system, increase human rights abuses, and attract greater international scrutiny (SAIS Review, 2025; AP, 2025).
The Way Forward: Human Rights and Democratic Stability
Addressing past and present human rights challenges in El Salvador requires more than punitive measures; it demands investment in communities and the promotion of social equity, guided by principles similar to those enshrined in the U.S. Constitution (Amnesty International, 2023; Human Rights Watch, 2023). Sustainable stability depends on fostering a society where human rights are respected and democracy is upheld. The future of the country will depend on whether it continues on the path of rights violations or chooses to build a fairer and more equitable society.
Conclusion
The political strategies employed by President Nayib Bukele in El Salvador have produced a complex legacy. While his administration has achieved notable reductions in violent crime, these advancements have come at a cost to democratic norms and fundamental human rights. The new agreement to house American criminals in Salvadoran prisons exacerbates these concerns, raising profound legal, ethical, and humanitarian questions for both countries. For El Salvador to achieve lasting stability and prosperity, it must balance the need for security with a strong commitment to democracy, social justice, and human rights. The long-term future of the nation will depend on its ability to reconcile these priorities and foster a society in which both security and freedom are protected.
References
Al Jazeera. (2023, March 27). El Salvador extends state of emergency while continuing crackdown on gangs. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/27/el-salvador-extiende-el-estado-de-emergencia-mientras-continua-la-represion-contra-las-pandillas
Amnesty International. (2023, October 3). El Salvador: Emergency measures violate human rights. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/10/el-salvador-state-of-emergency-measures-violate-human-rights/
AP News. (2025, February 4). El Salvador's offer to take in deportees and violent criminals from the U.S. is unprecedented. https://apnews.com/article/deportation-criminals-us-citizens-el-salvador-prison-948be810e523600baa1f82e4238e6e87
BBC. (2025, February 4). El Salvador offers to take in criminals and migrants from the U.S. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0jn5291p52o
Brennan Center for Justice. (2025, March 12). El Salvador's offer to house U.S. prisoners is illegal. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/el-salvadors-offer-house-us-prisoners-illegal
CNN. (2025, February 4). El Salvador offers to house violent criminals from the U.S. and deportees of any nationality. https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/03/americas/el-salvador-migrant-deal-marco-rubio-intl-hnk
DW. (2025, April 19). U.S. deportations to El Salvador test legal limits. https://www.dw.com/en/us-deportations-to-el-salvador-test-legal-limits/a-72289913
Freedom House. (2024). El Salvador: Freedom in the World 2024. https://freedomhouse.org/country/el-salvador/freedom-world/2024
Human Rights Watch. (2023, December 7). El Salvador: Emergency measures violate rights. https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/12/07/el-salvador-emergency-measures-violate-rights
OHCHR. (2025, April 30). UN experts alarmed by illegal deportations from the United States to El Salvador. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/04/un-experts-alarmed-illegal-deportations-united-states-el-salvador
SAIS Review. (2025, March 10). El Salvador's controversial offer: housing U.S. criminals in its mega-prison. https://saisreview.sais.jhu.edu/el-salvadors-controversial-offer-housing-u-s-criminals-in-its-mega-prison/
World Bank. (2024). El Salvador Overview. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/elsalvador/overview
About the Author,
William L. Acosta: Magna Cum Laude graduate from PWU and Alliance University. He is a retired New York police officer and founder and CEO of Equalizer Private Investigations & Security Services Inc., a licensed agency in New York and Florida with global reach.
Since 1999, he has led investigations into narcotics, homicides, and missing persons, also participating in state and federal criminal defense. An expert in international and multijurisdictional cases, he has coordinated operations in North America, Europe, and Latin America.
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