Chile’s Incoming Leader Looks to El Salvador’s High-Security Prison Model—But What Does This Mean for America?

In a revealing demonstration of how Latin American leaders are grappling with violent crime and lawlessness, Chile’s president-elect José Antonio Kast recently toured El Salvador’s Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (Cecot), the country’s notorious maximum-security prison designed explicitly for dangerous gang members. Kast’s mission was clear: to study the Salvadoran penitentiary system implemented under President Nayib Bukele’s aggressive security regime. While Kast acknowledges Chile’s justice system differs from El Salvador's, his willingness to explore such hardline measures reflects a broader regional shift towards prioritizing law and order over more lenient policies that have failed to protect citizens. Why Are Leaders...