President Nayib Bukele. For decades, El Salvador struggled with gang violence that terrorized communities across the country. High murder rates, extortion, and insecurity became part of daily life for Salvadorans—it forced many to flee the country.
To confront the gang problem, Nayib Bukele introduced the Territorial Control Plan in his first month as president. He deployed military and police forces to dismantle gangs and strengthen security forces to regain control of gang-dominated areas.
The Territorial Control Plan is El Salvador’s security measure aimed at restoring safety and eliminating gang influence in the territory, which they have accomplished. Today, El Salvador is one of the safest countries in Latin America—if not the safest.
What is the Territorial Control Plan?
The government’s security strategy, also known as Nayib Bukele’s Territorial Control Plan, is a security strategy designed to eliminate gang violence and restore public safety in El Salvador.
Its objectives include dismantling criminal organizations, reducing homicide rates, and regaining state control over gang-dominated areas.
The Plan consists of seven phases, beginning with Phase One: Preparation, which involves increasing military and police deployment in gang-controlled areas and cutting off communication from inside prisons.
The remaining phases focus on direct gang crackdowns, large-scale arrests, community recovery, and long-term crime prevention efforts.
The National Civil Police (PNC), the Armed Forces of El Salvador (FAES), and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security are the primary institutions implementing this security plan.
With the implementation of this security measure, El Salvador has seen a drastic reduction in crime, especially homicides; however, concerns regarding human rights and due process violations continue to this day.
The Phases of the Territorial Control Plan
The territorial control plan consists of seven phases: preparation, opportunity, modernization, incursion, extraction, and integration. Phase seven, currently without details or a name, is designed as an emergency or contingency phase if the first six phases fail.
Phase 1: Preparation and Deployment
Phase one of the Territorial Control Plan focused on restoring security by deploying National Civil Police (PNC) agents and military personnel across key areas of the country.
The goal was to establish territorial control, deter gang activity, and implement repressive measures against criminals.
This phase also targeted El Salvador’s prison system, transferring the most dangerous inmates to high-security prisons while stripping them of privileges such as phone calls. Taking control of Salvadoran prisons was one of Phase One’s primary objectives.
Before the Bukele administration, gangs controlled the jails and used them as headquarters, where high-ranking gang members lived in luxury, ordered homicides, and directed gang members out in the territory.
Phase one halted all communication from maximum-security jails with the outside world, including phone calls and visitations.
The government canceled visits to maximum-security prisons and cut off cellular service around these facilities—a harsh measure that remains in effect today.
By reinforcing police and military presence and tightening prison security, the government aimed to disrupt gang operations and regain control over violent territories.
Despite criticism over human rights concerns, phase one significantly contributed to reducing crime and asserting state authority over gang-controlled areas.
Phase 2: Opportunity
Phase two focused on preventing crime through social programs and rebuilding the country’s social fabric, emphasizing opportunities for young people. President Bukele repeatedly stated that his government wanted to provide young Salvadorans with alternatives to joining gangs.
Speaking about efforts to eliminate gangs such as MS13 and Barrio 18, Bukele stated, “We have to make it difficult for criminal organizations to recruit new members.” One way to do this is to give young people opportunities that steer them away from gang involvement.
During phase two, the government plans was to provide young people with training in various fields to help them develop skills, find employment, and avoid involvement with criminal organizations.
The phase also includes creating community centers known as Urban Wellness and Opportunities Centers (CUBO). These spaces provide young people with opportunities to participate in educational, recreational, and productive activities, offering alternatives to gang involvement.
This is the phase where we help our young people get out of gangs. That won’t lead to anything good; here, they will have a range of opportunities. President Nayib Bukele.
Phase 3: Modernization of Security Forces
Phase Three of Nayib Bukele’s Territorial Control Plan focused on modernizing the Salvadoran security forces to enhance crime-fighting capabilities.
This phase included equipping the National Civil Police (PNC) and Armed Forces with advanced technology, improved weaponry, and better communication systems.
The government invested in drones, surveillance cameras, and facial recognition software to monitor criminal activity more effectively.
Officers received specialized training, and new infrastructure, such as modern police stations and command centers, strengthened law enforcement operations.
This phase ensured that law enforcement remains prepared to counter evolving threats, reinforcing the government’s commitment to maintaining public safety in El Salvador.
Phase 4: Incursion
Phase Four of the Territorial Control Plan, known as “Incursion,” aimed to intensify military operations against gangs and regain control of territories dominated by criminal organizations.
The phase was designed to last five years and focused on doubling the number of soldiers from 20,000 to 40,000, significantly expanding the country’s military presence. Bukele’s political opponents opposed the increase in military personnel.
By expanding military deployments, the Bukele administration sought to strengthen territorial control, carry out large-scale security operations, and dismantle remaining gang strongholds.
During the Bukele administrations, Soldiers worked alongside officers from the National Civil Police (PNC) to patrol high-risk areas, maintain security, and prevent gangs from regaining control.
Phase 5: Extraction
Phase Five of the Territorial Control Plan, known as “Extraction,” focused on locating and removing gang members who remained hidden in communities across El Salvador.
During this phase, security forces surrounded designated areas. They conducted house-to-house searches to locate and capture suspected gang members.
Authorities used intelligence, surveillance, and informant networks to identify gang members and remaining criminal strongholds, allowing security forces to conduct targeted operations.
By capturing remaining gang members, the Bukele administration aimed to weaken criminal organizations further, prevent their resurgence, and strengthen long-term public security.
The “Extraction” phase played an important role in the government’s broader campaign against organized crime and in consolidating state control over territories previously dominated by gangs.
We are going to release phase five, but a little modified. It has two elements: extraction and, based on what has been learned during the State of Exception, fencing off large areas while extracting gang members. Nayib Bukele.
Phase 6: Community Recovery
Phase Six began with the creation of the National Directorate of National Integration, an entity the government said was established to address the country’s medium- and long-term needs.
The new directorate was tasked with coordinating a comprehensive, employment-focused training system, approving training programs, and developing initiatives to reduce poverty.
This phase focused on rebuilding communities affected by gang violence and reintegrating former gang-controlled territories into society. It prioritized social programs, economic development, education, and employment opportunities as ways to prevent crime from resurging.
Phase Six also sought to provide long-term stability and prevent criminal organizations from regaining influence by strengthening the social and economic foundations of vulnerable communities.
Known as “Integration,” this phase represented a shift from primarily relying on law enforcement toward community recovery and development to make El Salvador’s security gains sustainable and prevent a return to widespread gang violence.
Phase 7: Unknown
As of now, Phase Seven of Nayib Bukele’s Territorial Control Plan has not been publicly presented or described in any official capacity.
If implemented, Phase Seven would likely serve as a final stage of consolidation or reinforcement—designed to sustain or expand the gains achieved under previous phases should they prove insufficient.
However, no official information has been released regarding its title, objectives, or operational scope. The Bukele administration has not disclosed either the timeline or the specific measures for Phase Seven.
Key Successes of the Plan
The Territorial Control Plan, introduced by the Bukele administration, transformed El Salvador’s security landscape. Once infamous for violence, the country now reports one of the lowest homicide rates in the region.
A major achievement of the security plan has been the dismantling of powerful criminal gangs. As of today, over 91,000 suspected gang members have been arrested.
These security measures also improved public perceptions of safety. Salvadorans reported feeling more secure in their communities, while businesses and the tourism industry benefited from the country’s increased stability.
Areas previously considered dangerous became accessible again. Everyday activities that had once carried the threat of gang violence—such as commuting, socializing, operating a business, or traveling between communities—became part of a more normal routine.
Internationally, the Territorial Control Plan has drawn both recognition and criticism. Supporters commend the government for restoring order, while human rights groups warn of mass detentions and alleged due process violations.
Despite the controversy, El Salvador’s security model has garnered international attention. Other nations grappling with gang violence are studying Bukele’s approach as a potential framework for their own security reforms.
Ultimately, the Territorial Control Plan has reshaped the nation’s identity—delivering undeniable security gains while sparking an ongoing debate over how far a state should go to ensure peace.
Bukele’s Territorial Control Plan
Nayib Bukele’s Territorial Control Plan fundamentally changed El Salvador’s security. It reduced gang influence, allowing communities once dominated by criminal organizations to experience levels of safety that once seemed out of reach.
For people living in El Salvador, the dramatic reduction in violence has been particularly significant. Salvadorans are grateful for the security improvements, as the country regularly records days with zero homicides.
The Territorial Control Plan led to El Salvador achieving the lowest homicide rate in Latin America—a remarkable transformation for a country once considered among the world’s most violent.
