El Salvador extends pretrial detention for 80,000 gang suspects 2 more years

El Salvador’s Congress voted Friday to give government prosecutors two more years to hold the more than 80,000 people swept up under the state of emergency while they investigate alleged ties to the country’s gangs.

The Congress, controlled by President Nayib Bukele’s New Ideas party and its allies, voted 57 to 3 in favor of extending the period of pretrial incarceration.

Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado said that with the extension authorities could carry out more complete investigations, present solid evidence and win sentences against members of organized crime.

Lawmakers also gave the government the option of extending for another 12 months if necessary.

Since then, more than 88,000 people have been arrested for alleged ties to gangs, with 90% still awaiting trial.

In July 2023, the Congress voted to give the government 24 months to prosecute a group of gang members. That period is up this month on Aug. 25.

Delgado said the plan is to carry out hundreds of mass trials as they’ve been able to sort the accused into groups.