The Salvadoran government has officially requested a mass trial for 563 alleged leaders of the Barrio 18 gang, marking a significant escalation in President Nayib Bukele’s aggressive anti-crime campaign. According to the public prosecutor's office, these individuals face a staggering 14,000 criminal charges, including drug trafficking, extortion, and human trafficking. Deputy prosecutor Max Munoz confirmed that every suspect is being charged with membership in a terrorist organization, with proceedings expected to commence as early as August.

This legal maneuver follows a similar mass trial that began in April for nearly 500 members of the rival Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang. Since declaring a state of emergency in early 2022 following a surge in violence, President Bukele’s administration has detained more than 90,000 individuals linked to gang activity. While the government frames these actions as essential to restoring national security, human rights organizations have consistently raised alarms regarding the lack of due process and reports of widespread civil rights abuses throughout the ongoing crackdown.