Meet the children left without parents under El Salvador’s emergency decree

Key Points:

• El Salvador's state of emergency, declared in March 2022 to combat gang violence, has resulted in the detention of over 90,000 people, with many families losing one or both parents, leaving an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 children without parental support.
• The emergency, initially a 30-day suspension of certain civil liberties, has been renewed 48 times and is credited with drastically reducing the country's homicide rate by 98%, but critics argue it has come at the cost of human rights, including mass arrests without due process.
• Children of detainees face significant psychological trauma, including anxiety and fear of authorities, as well as increased economic burdens on extended families who often must care for them amid reduced state support for prisoners.
• Human rights groups like MOVIR warn that the ongoing state of emergency perpetuates a climate of conflict and repression, with many detainees, including innocent individuals, held without conviction and denied legal defense.
• Families affected by the mass detentions struggle with increased expenses for prisoner care and basic needs, and many advocate for the release of their loved ones to restore family stability and support.