Honduras and El Salvador enact major security and military deployment laws

Honduras prison reform gang suppression law El Salvador military deployment Haiti security mission terrorist association combat

Honduras has enacted the Special Law for the Combat of Terrorist Associations, Maras, and Gangs, which establishes a strict maximum-security regime for identified gang and terrorist members. Under the new regulations, these inmates face individual isolation in specialized cells, with no collective living allowed. The law prohibits access to electronic devices, including phones and televisions, and restricts legal visits to once per week. Family visits must be conducted through glass or electronic means without physical contact, and conjugal visits are strictly forbidden. Additionally, inmates are limited to 30 minutes of daily supervised calisthenics in their modules.

In El Salvador, the Legislative Assembly has approved a transitory law authorizing the Armed Forces to participate in the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti. This mission, following UN Security Council Resolution 2793, replaces the previous Multinational Security Support Mission. The Salvadoran contingent, which may include military and civilian personnel as well as rotary-wing aircraft, is authorized to operate from both Haitian and Dominican Republic territory. The deployment is set for an initial 12-month period starting October 2, 2026, with provisions for extension.

Entities

Consejo Nacional de Defensa y Seguridad · El Salvador · Haiti · Honduras · Instituto Nacional Penitenciario · National Congress of Honduras · National Council for Defense and Security · National Penitentiary Institute · United Nations Security Council

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] Inmates are permitted 30 minutes of daily calisthenics in their module's hallway under strict surveillance. elmundo.hn · extradigital.hn
[● 5 SOURCES] The law prohibits these inmates from accessing computers, telephones, televisions, radios, or any electronic communication devices. extradigital.hn · elmundo.hn · confidencialhn.com · dinero.hn
[● 5 SOURCES] The law, contained in Decree No. 208-2026, entered into force following its publication in the Official Gazette La Gaceta. confidencialhn.com · dinero.hn · extradigital.hn · elmundo.hn
[● 2 SOURCES] Conjugal or intimate visits are strictly prohibited under the new regulations. extradigital.hn · elmundo.hn
[● 5 SOURCES] The National Congress of Honduras unanimously approved the Special Law for the Combat of Terrorist Associations, Maras, and Gangs. extradigital.hn · confidencialhn.com · dinero.hn · elmundo.hn
[● 5 SOURCES] Inmates identified as members of terrorist associations, maras, or gangs will face individual isolation in maximum security cells. extradigital.hn · confidencialhn.com · elmundo.hn · dinero.hn
[● 2 SOURCES] Legal defense visits are restricted to once per week. elmundo.hn
[● 2 SOURCES] The new regime prohibits the entry of cash, valuables, or unauthorized food and beverages into the prison. extradigital.hn · elmundo.hn