El Salvador Opens Mass Trial For 486 Alleged MS-13 Members
This week El Salvador opened a mass trial of 486 alleged MS-13 members accused of mass murder. The defendants face charges tied to multiple killings, and prosecutors say the case links many violent acts to the Mara Salvatrucha gang.
The size of the case highlights the government's broad crackdown on gangs and puts heavy pressure on courts to process many cases quickly. CBS News posted the report on Facebook, where readers debated whether the mass trial will improve public safety or risk undermining defendants' rights.
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đ Key Facts
- 486 alleged MS-13 members are on trial together in El Salvador, including national and street-level leaders and founders.
- Prosecutors cite 47,000 crimes between 2012 and 2022, including roughly 29,000 homicides and 87 killings in a single March 2022 weekend.
- Over 91,000 people have been arrested under President Nayib Bukele's state of emergency, which rights groups say has produced torture, mass trials and more than 500 prison deaths.
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April 21, 2026