Archbishop Jose Luis Escobar Alas of San Salvador Archives

Report: El Salvador Crackdown Leading to Abuses

Bystanders are being swept up and human rights abuses have increased in El Salvador’s campaign against gangs, report says.

Salvadoran troops are sent into marginalized communities to break the stranglehold of gangs who control those areas.

Among the 12,000 Salvadorans detained for gang-related charges during the three weeks before Holy Week, some were picked up randomly.