{"id":93549,"date":"2026-04-23T23:28:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T23:28:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/04\/23\/el-salvador-launches-mass-prosecution-of-ms-13-members-accused-of-thousands-of-crimes\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T23:29:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T23:29:03","slug":"el-salvador-launches-mass-prosecution-of-ms-13-members-accused-of-thousands-of-crimes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/04\/23\/el-salvador-launches-mass-prosecution-of-ms-13-members-accused-of-thousands-of-crimes\/","title":{"rendered":"El Salvador launches mass prosecution of MS-13 members accused of thousands of crimes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By emmitt barry<\/a>Worthy News Washington DC Bureau Chief<\/p>\n

(WORTH NEWS) \u2013 El Salvador has launched one of the largest criminal proceedings in modern history, putting 486 alleged members of the notorious Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) on trial for a staggering 47,000 combined crimes.<\/p>\n

The mass trial began Tuesday inside the country’s high-security terrorism detention center, known as CECOT \u2014 a giant “mega-prison” that was built as part of President Nayib Bukele’s offensive on gang violence in 2022. Images released from the proceedings showed rows of detainees dressed in white, sitting and listening as prosecutors outlined a wide range of charges ranging from murder and extortion to arms trafficking.<\/p>\n

Authorities say the alleged crimes span a decade from 2012 to 2022, a period marked by an increase in gang control and violence. The crisis reached its peak in March 2022, when 87 people were murdered in a single weekend \u2013 prompting Bukele to declare a state of emergency that remains in effect today.<\/p>\n

Under legal reforms passed in 2023, El Salvador vastly expanded its ability to conduct mass prosecutions and increased the maximum prison sentence per crime from 45 to 60 years. As of 2026, more than 91,500 suspected gang members have been detained, with CECOT alone capable of housing 40,000 prisoners. Of the defendants in the current trial, 413 are already in custody, while 73 remain fugitives.<\/p>\n

Government prosecutors argue that MS-13 operated as a coordinated criminal network that effectively sought to establish a “parallel state”, terrorize communities, and undermine national stability. Officials credit the action with dramatically improving public safety, noting that the murder rate will fall from 7.8 per 100,000 people in 2022 to just 1.3 today.<\/p>\n

However, the sweeping measures have drawn sharp criticism from international organisations. The United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights have raised concerns about due process during the state of emergency, citing suspension of legal protections, extended detention, and limitations on defense rights.<\/p>\n

Despite the criticism, Bukele remains widely popular domestically, with an approval rating exceeding 90 percent. He has staunchly defended his policies and accused foreign-backed groups \u2013 including those associated with the Open Society Foundations \u2013 of trying to undermine El Salvador’s efforts to root out organized crime.<\/p>\n

In the United States, MS-13 is also under increasing scrutiny. In 2025, the US government designated the gang as one of several international criminal organizations considered terrorist entities, and Washington has continued efforts to deport suspected members back to El Salvador \u2013 a policy that Bukele has openly supported.<\/p>\n

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