El Salvador has reached a historic low of 114 homicides in 2024, an impressive figure compared to the alarming 6,656 homicides recorded in 2015. Thanks to the controversial but effective security strategy implemented by President Nayib Bukele, the homicide rate has dropped to just 1.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, making the country one of the safest nations in the Americas.
Social and urban transformation is evident: cities and neighborhoods that were once considered war zones due to gang dominance are now spaces where citizens can walk freely and without fear.
The turning point came in March 2022, when Bukele launched a massive crackdown on gangs that resulted in thousands of arrests and the dismantling of historic criminal structures. The security success secured Bukele’s re-election, with millions of Salvadorans backing his hard-line strategy to bring peace to the country, being considered one of the world’s most beloved presidents by his people.
Elon Musk advocates for Bukele’s method in the United States
The impact of the Bukele model has crossed borders and caught the attention of influential figures such as Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who expressed his opinion via Twitter (X): “This has to happen and will happen in the United States,” something that may happen given Donald Trump’s election, with Musk serving as co-director of the White House Office of Government Efficiency.
The businessman’s comments have generated intense debate on social networks and in the US media, where crime and public safety policies are more than controversial, especially after the attack in New Orleans.
Nayib Bukele’s anti-crime model, known as the ‘Territorial Control Plan‘, is based on militarization and territorial control, with the deployment of police and military forces in gang-controlled areas, and strict control in prisons to prevent criminal leaders from operating from within.
In addition, under the state of emergency, certain constitutional guarantees have been temporarily suspended, allowing for mass arrests without a warrant. At the same time, the plan includes social and economic programs to offer education, employment and development opportunities to at-risk youth, reducing their vulnerability to gangs.