Largest prison in the Americas holds 12,000 after El Salvador war on gangs | AFP

"We're persevering day by day" says Jose Hurquilla Bonilla, one of more than 12,000 inmates held in El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison, which has now been in operation for six months. The facility, said to have a capacity of 40,000, is considered the largest in the Americas and was built on the orders of President Nayib Bukele to hold some of the 70,000 suspected gang members arrested during his war on gang violence.

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[hectorochoa]

"alleged gang member" really!? Don't you see the gang tattoos?

[m.]

Beautiful images. Glad the communities are safe now.

[Alexandros.Mograine]

These people did horrible things and the only reason they feel bad is because they got caught.

[JuanTonSoupXP]

With the things I’ve heard from my family (all originally from El Salvador) these people talking about God and change now are only doing so because of their circumstances. I’m all about reform and giving people another chance, but these men are pure evil.

[rubenhayk]

Prison is not hospital, you cant say you feel better and leave.

[ddbbtwr]

Most are "accused" of being in a gang. Still haven't found one guy in these videos without gang tattoos

[mariobrosPS]

No es hotel 5 estrellas; es cárcel para asesinos que descuartizaban a personas inocentes. (Por no mencionar una larga lista de delitos inhumanos que solo los salvadoreños vivimos)

[billharpster]

Crime is a choice. So are gangs drugs and tattoos.
Many people outside these walls are still suffering from their actions and decisions.
I wish the USA had real prisons like you have.

[zhkdvkm]

Aa a Salvadorian, I am glad they finally got tough on crime, statistics don't lie. The president actions scream conservative on his tough on crime. Good job Mr. President.

[brunobordini]

Congratulations to President Bukele! If Human Rights and NGOs are complaining, it's because you're going the right way!

[ItsJenWith__N]

I find it difficult to believe that prisoners will act this passive without there being a serious fear of consequences.

[examinetruth]

The stats show that El Salvador has never been safer, ever then now! Congratulations!

[roijones-wcbg]

if a place can make someone become more religious, that means it is a best place for him, let them stay there forever

[prasadrao]

What I heard is now kids can play in local parks, street vendors don't have to pay protection money and violence is down. This is a good crackdown and good for El Salvador.

[faithhope]

Only 14 died? Boo hoo. What about the thousands that died?

[williamvelez]

Que diga el otro lado de la moneda, las cantidades de personas muertas a diario por las pandillas, que para ingresar era requisito matar una persona, que hablen de las extorsiones y las violaciones que a diario sucedían. ¿Y qué de los derechos humanos de sus víctimas? 😠

[JC-tfjb]

Report is wrong it states that El Salvador declared a state of emergency. It did not they claimed a state of exception. Emergency would have had to declare the gang members as an enemy army. An exception allows them to do what they did. As in we know what we r doing is illegal but we are making an exception because we can’t figure out any other way to stop the gang violence.

[comcastblows]

To be fair, the only people I feel sorry for are those who were indoctrinated and brainwashed as kids like the dude in the beginning said so. But still man, you gotta pay for what you did

[kriss]

I heard somebody say that 100 out of 900 are gang members the rest are innocent🤣🤡 how about 9, 999 out of 10, 000

[fatimav]

Y las víctimas q ellos mataron sin piedad y los crímenes atroces que cometieron ellos merecen estar ahí 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏