El Salvador has conducted a widespread crackdown on criminal activity, resulting in the detention of foreign nationals, including Americans. The State Department has emphasized its commitment to the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas and is in direct communication with the government of El Salvador regarding this issue. However, due to privacy considerations, no further details are currently available.
The U.S. initially expressed concern about Americans being mistakenly caught up in the crackdown through a travel advisory update in March 2023. The State Department acknowledged that some arrests were made in a reportedly arbitrary manner and advised Americans to reconsider traveling to El Salvador.
The White House and the government of El Salvador have not provided comments on this matter at this time.
El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele declared a “state of exception” in March 2022, granting the government more authority to combat gang members by relaxing arrest laws and granting access to citizens’ communications. This measure was implemented following a period of intense violence that resulted in 87 deaths, which Bukele attributed to MS-13. The leaders behind these killings were reportedly captured during the state-wide operation.
The state of exception has been extended multiple times by El Salvador’s congress, resulting in over 46,000 arrests of alleged gang members. By the end of the year, this number had increased to over 62,000, including alleged collaborators.
It has been reported that El Salvador has also detained individuals from Panama, Guatemala, and Colombia, although no official statistics have been released regarding the number of foreign nationals arrested in the country.
One U.S. citizen, Walter Huetes, was detained in El Salvador in May while attending a party with friends. Huetes, who has Salvadoran roots, had traveled to the country to assist his stepdaughter with a visa application. He was arrested due to tattoos on his wrist and hand and has not been able to contact his family, although he has spoken with a U.S. consular officer.
The exact number of Americans arrested in the crackdown has not been disclosed by the State Department.
Peter Aitken is a Fox News Digital reporter focusing on national and global news.
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