El Salvadoran Committee Backs Extending Detention of Suspected Gang Members Until 2027

Representative Caleb Navarro said lawmakers were closing loopholes and strengthening justice to ensure criminals cannot again terrorize Salvadoran families.

A guard watches inmates allegedly linked to criminal organizations sitting on the floor at the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 16, 2025. Salvadoran Government via Getty Images

El Salvador’s congressional security committee on Aug. 14 backed the extension of the pretrial detention of tens of thousands of suspected gang members for another two years.

The National Security and Justice Committee supported the reforms to the country’s Law Against Organized Crime, giving prosecutors until August 2027 to build cases against the 88,750 suspects in prison.