The Inescapable Prison of Barrio 18 in Honduras

To Desafio, the Barrio 18 gang in Honduras was everything. It provided a family, a sense of belonging. Until his life grew increasingly violent.

GameChangers 2022: El Salvador's Gang Crackdown Has Steep Human Rights Cost

El Salvador's ruthless gang crackdown has led to mass incarceration and human rights abuses. But will it be replicated elsewhere?…

True Cost of El Salvador’s War on Gangs Still Being Tallied

The escalation of El Salvador's gang crackdown in the city of Soyapango has raised severe questions as to whether gang members are really still being rooted out.

Honduras' State of Exception May Set Worrying Precedent

Honduras declared a state of exception as extortion cases rise, suspending constitutional rights in cities and deploying thousands of troops.

A Cartel Bodyguard in Mexico’s 'Hot Land'

In the mountains of Michoacán, Mexico, Carlos was trained to become a ruthless soldier for the Cárteles Unidos.

El Salvador Arrests Thousands but Gangs Keep Their Guns

Almost four months into a nationwide crackdown, El Salvador's government has failed to disarm its notorious street gangs.

Mano Dura Redux: The Price of Mass Gang Arrests in El Salvador

El Salvador has arrested over 40,000 alleged gang members. This seems shocking but it is not without precedent in the country.

Will Soaring Arrests in El Salvador Overwhelm its Prisons?

As part of his sweeping gang crackdown, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has overseen the mass imprisonment of tens of thousands of people, potentially jeopardizing recent efforts to mitigate overcrowding…

El Salvador Shifts Mano Dura Security Policies into Overdrive

With a near unprecedented wave of arrests, the El Salvador government is doubling down and expanding on heavy-handed security policies, known as mano dura, that have consistently failed to yield…

Gang Murder Rampage Sends Shockwaves Through El Salvador Government

A killing spree unlike anything seen since El Salvador’s civil war has delivered a macabre message from the country’s street gangs, which have learned that spikes in homicides speak to…

Barrio 18 Poses as Vendors to Pilfer El Salvador Pandemic Funds

Dozens of Barrio 18 members in El Salvador allegedly conspired with street vendors to divert pandemic relief funds.

Fired El Salvador Prison Workers Claim Irregularities Facilitated Gang Negotiation

Fired prison employees in El Salvador have claimed they witnessed negotiations among government officials and imprisoned gang leaders, adding weight to allegations the country's prison director helped broker a pact…