El Salvador Now Safer Than Much of Europe, Thanks to No-Nonsense Policing

The U.S. State Department on Tuesday officially lowered its travel advisory for El Salvador to “Level 1,” the department’s safest designation for foreign travel, placing the Central American nation on par with countries where visitors are advised to exercise only standard precautions.

The advisory, posted on the State Department’s website, reflects what officials described as a significant improvement in El Salvador’s public safety environment.

“Gang activity has decreased over the last three years,” the country summary states.

“This has caused a drop in violent crimes and murders.”

El Salvador now has a Level 1 advisory.

That’s safer than France, Sweden, UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, Netherlands. pic.twitter.com/wp2Pr4DFLs

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) April 10, 2025

Trump’s Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

The department now advises travelers to “exercise normal precautions in El Salvador.”

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

The change in travel status marks a major shift for a country that was once known globally for its high levels of gang violence.

For years, El Salvador was labeled the “murder capital of the world,” a reputation driven by the influence of criminal organizations such as MS-13 and Barrio 18.

The drop in crime has been attributed in large part to a sweeping anti-gang crackdown launched by President Nayib Bukele, who took office in 2019.

His administration has carried out mass arrests, increased security patrols, and enacted emergency powers that allowed law enforcement to aggressively pursue and detain gang members.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio credited Bukele’s policies with the country’s rapid improvement in safety conditions.

“President Nayib Bukele’s leadership has been crucial in improving the security of his country for foreign travelers,” Rubio said following the announcement of the updated advisory.

Keeping Americans safe overseas is our highest priority. President @nayibbukele‘s leadership has been crucial in improving the security of his country for foreign travelers. Gang activity, violent crime, and murders in El Salvador have significantly dropped. The Trump…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) April 8, 2025

The travel advisory update was met with wide attention on social media, with many commentators noting how far El Salvador has come in just a few years under Bukele’s direction.

Bukele himself shared the news on X, signaling his administration’s pride in the development.

El Salvador just got the U.S. State Department’s travel gold star:

Level 1: safest it gets.
🇺🇸🤝🏼🇸🇻 pic.twitter.com/h5wEbxnJmH

— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) April 8, 2025

The post quickly gained traction as supporters celebrated the international recognition of the country’s improved safety.

Under Bukele’s administration, the Salvadoran government has reported sharp declines in homicides and other violent crimes.

The president declared a state of emergency in 2022, which gave police expanded powers to target suspected gang members.

Since then, authorities have arrested more than 70,000 individuals believed to be connected to criminal groups.

While some international human rights organizations have raised concerns about the scope of the arrests and the use of emergency powers, Bukele’s security strategy has received broad domestic approval.

The president maintains high approval ratings in El Salvador, where many citizens say they now feel safer walking the streets and conducting daily business.

The State Department’s designation of “Level 1” for El Salvador places it in the same advisory category as countries like Japan and Switzerland, and safer than several European nations currently listed at higher advisory levels due to concerns over terrorism, civil unrest, or other safety threats.

This analysis on “El Salvador’s tourism boom” by @bancosantander was published 3 months ago.

Now, with the updated travel advisory from @StateDept, unmatched security, new infrastructure, and fresh destinations in the works, we’re aiming for new all-time highs 🚀

Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/RR0rcDMqmI

— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) April 8, 2025

The change could have a positive impact on El Salvador’s tourism and investment sectors, both of which were previously constrained by travel warnings and perceptions of widespread violence.

The updated advisory stands as a rare instance of a country moving from higher warning levels to the lowest category, reflecting what officials described as a notable shift in crime and security conditions on the ground.

Connect with Vetted Off-Duty Cops to Instantly Fulfill Your Security Needs