San Salvador: Upon reaching the four-year mark of El Salvador's state of emergency in March 2026, human rights organizations are alerting to a silent crisis: thousands of children have been left without parents or caregivers, detained within the massive anti-gang campaign pushed by President Nayib Bukele. The regime, renewed 49 consecutive times since its declaration in March 2022, has led to the arrest of more than 91,500 people.

Among the cases documented by Al Jazeera are families like that of Sara de Pérez, 54, whose son was arrested two years ago, leaving her granddaughter Sarita, 16, in her grandmother's care. "My son used to wear one like this too," says De Pérez referring to the Saint Benedict medallion her granddaughter wears, adding that she gave it to her when her son was arrested. Another family, that of Rubidía Hernández, whose 21-year-old son was arrested in August 2022, took care of the young man's daughter, who was then two years old and whose mother was no longer present in her life. "She always asks me, 'When is my daddy coming? I need him,'" Hernández recounts.

Psychological Impact on Children

According to human rights organization MOVIR, the most affected minors are those who have seen their caregivers arrested. "Sometimes they don't want to do any physical activity or studying. They don't want to spend time with other children or go outside. They're afraid of authorities, because some of them experienced the authorities taking their parents away," activist Sofía Ramírez told Al Jazeera. In 2025, El Salvador had the highest incarceration rate in the world, with approximately 1.7% of its population in detention. Bodies such as GIPES published in 2026 their final report noting that crimes against humanity may have been committed.