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El Salvador's Emergency Declaration: 90,000 Detained, Many Children

3/28/2026

42 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Since March 27, 2022, the emergency declaration in El Salvador has led to more than 90,000 detentions.
Sarita, a 16-year-old in El Rosario, lives with her grandmother Sara de Perez and wears a protective medallion tied to her father, who is imprisoned without contact.
About 60,000 detainees are children, leaving many without parental support.
Families report severe psychological distress as children grieve absent parents without convictions.

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Story summary

Since March 27, 2022, the emergency declaration in El Salvador has led to more than 90,000 detentions.
Sarita, a 16-year-old in El Rosario, lives with her grandmother Sara de Perez and wears a protective medallion tied to her father, who is imprisoned without contact.
About 60,000 detainees are children, leaving many without parental support.
Families report severe psychological distress as children grieve absent parents without convictions.