From War to Walls: How Latin America's Crisis with Violence and Drugs Led to El Salvador's Mega-Prison**

The "beyond cringe" (a phrase borrowed from my teen granddaughters) photos of the Mega-Prison in El Salvador for the "worst of the worst" of the gangsters from Central and South America (and  elsewhere?) showed up in my Facebook feed today.  Rows of them, lying on the cement floor, interlocked in the baggy white undershorts that would, presumably, prevent them from being able to hide weapons, drugs, what else? 

At first glance I thought it was some sort of bizarre religious exercise and then my mind flipped over to the uncanny similarity to what we have seen of Holocaust pictures. 

Then I read about what it was. 

And, several hours later, I wondered how things have come to be like this in the world.  Again. 

And so I went to Chad (what I call ChatGPT) and had one of those magic conversations. Please feel free to fact-check what is written below and share what you find, have read, have heard about, have lived yourself. 

*"Violence is not irrational. It's a tool—brutal and crude, but one people resort to when no other tool exists."— Óscar Martínez, Salvadoran journalist and author of The History of Violence: Living and Dying in Central America

 🌎 A Legacy of Inequality and Control

Many of the violence and drug-related issues in Latin America have deep historical roots. During colonial rule, Spanish and Portuguese powers extracted resources and left behind  deeply stratified societies. Even after independence in the 19th century, land and power remained in the hands of a few, with fragile institutions unable to guarantee rights or opportunities to the broader population.

❄️ Cold War Chaos and Civil War

In the 20th century, Cold War geopolitics turned Central America into a battleground. The United States, fearing the spread of communism, backed right-wing regimes and death squads across the region, including:

 **El Salvador (1980–1992), where a 12-year civil war left over 75,000 people dead.

 **Guatemala (1960–1996), where genocidal campaigns were waged against Indigenous communities.

 "The war didn't end, it just changed form. Now it's fought in the streets, not the mountains." — María Teresa, human rights advocate, Guatemala

These brutal wars decimated civil society and left governments with weak democracies and heavily militarized structures.

🌍 Gangs, Migration, and the Drug Trade

After the wars, many Central Americans fled to the U.S., especially to cities like Los Angeles, where marginalized youth found protection in gangs like MS-13 and Barrio 18. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the U.S. began mass deportations of these gang members back to Central America, exporting not just people but an entire culture of violence.

- Countries like Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico** became corridors for U.S.-bound cocaine, with gangs and cartels fighting for control.

- The influx of drug money corrupted police, politicians, and militaries, further weakening public trust.

⚡ Iron Fist Policies and the Rise of Bukele

Facing rampant crime and public fear, governments across the region adopted **"mano dura" (iron fist)** strategies. These included:

- Mass incarcerations

- Militarized police

- Harsh anti-gang laws

In El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele declared a state of exception in 2022. Over 75,000 people have been detained, many without trial.

Bukele opened the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in 2023, a "mega-prison" that holds up to 40,000 people. Images of tattooed men shaved bald, shackled and stacked in rows sparked international outrage and comparisons to concentration camps.

 "This is not justice. This is spectacle. And the world claps while we bury our rights."   — Zaira Navas, Salvadoran lawyer and former Inspector General for Human Rights

🙏 Toward a More Just and Democratic Future

From a **democratic and human rights perspective**, this crisis is not only about crime. It reflects:

- Centuries of inequality

- Weak institutions and corruption

- Foreign interference

- Economic despair and lack of opportunity

Solutions must go beyond punishment. Experts and activists call for:

- Restorative justice programs

- Youth outreach and education

- Judicial reform

- International cooperation rooted in dignity and equity

 "Security without justice is tyranny. We must build peace with truth, not fear."  — Rigoberta Menchú, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Guatemala

🔗 Sources and Further Reading:

- *Óscar Martínez,  The History of Violence: Living and Dying in Central America (Amazon Associate: if you purchase this book through this link, we receive a small referral fee. You are not charged anything extra to the book cost. Thank you for supporting this page.)

- Human Rights Watch, "El Salvador: Brutal Crackdown on Gangs" (2023)  

- International Crisis Group, "Murder and Migration in Central America"  

- The Guardian, "Inside El Salvador's Mega-Prison" (2023)  

- PBS Frontline, *The Rise of MS-13* documentary and The Gang Crackdown.

- Amnesty International reports on Latin American justice systems

If you care about democracy and human rights in the Americas, this history matters. The road to justice must be paved with truth, not terror.