On 25 May 2022, lawmakers in El Salvador’s unicameral legislature voted overwhelmingly in favor of extending the current countrywide state of emergency for an additional 30 days. President Nayib Bukele initially declared the state of emergency in late March following a notable spike in gang-related killings. The legislation, which allows security personnel to detain suspected gang members without due process, has since led to the arrests of more than 34,500 suspected members of organized crime groups. Bukele’s supporters argue that the emergency powers have resulted in a significant decrease in daily homicide rates, while international human rights organizations criticize the emergency measure for its violation of due process, which they claim has led to the arrests of innocent people.