“The fear is different now”: how life has changed in El Salvador during Bukele’s 4-year war against the gangs

Four years into President Nayib Bukele's ongoing crackdown against gangs, known locally as the maras, daily life and the nature of fear have fundamentally shifted for residents in El Salvador. In neighborhoods such as La Campanera, where local citizens previously lived amid extreme violence marked by multiple homicides in public alleys, the security landscape has transformed significantly under the government's aggressive anti-gang campaign.

This prolonged state-level offensive has redefined public safety dynamics across vulnerable communities, altering how families navigate their immediate environments. While residents acknowledge the profound shift in the security paradigm, the ongoing enforcement measures continue to shape the social fabric of the country's working-class neighborhoods.