SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) – El Salvador extended a state of emergency pushed by President Nayib Bukele on Wednesday, with lawmakers overwhelmingly backing the measure that will give security forces extra powers to fight gangs.

Bukele’s allies in Congress easily passed it, with 67 lawmakers in the 84-seat government-controlled legislature voting for the extension of emergency powers, which critics say violates the due process rights of over 34,500 alleged gang members who have been arrested since March.