The 252 Venezuelan migrants were deported to El Salvador in March and April 2025, accused of alleged gang membership. They were immediately placed under the “State of Exception,” a legal framework allowing President Nayib Bukele to suspend certain constitutional rights, part of his broader campaign against organized crime. CECOT, or Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, built in 2023, has become emblematic of Bukele’s aggressive policies and has been repeatedly criticised by international rights groups for extreme overcrowding, denial of medical care, and harsh punitive measures.
Physical Abuse and Inhumane Conditions
Former detainees reported being confined to steel beds without mattresses, spending nearly all their time in small, overcrowded cells. Julian G*, a 29-year-old athlete, described the “horrific” conditions: “There was mould, the floor was black and sticky, the toilets were filthy, and the water we had for bathing and drinking was yellow and full of worms.” Inmates were reportedly allowed only 30 minutes outside their cells daily and were given minimal hygiene supplies — often just enough soap for one weekly wash. Many detainees said they were never provided a change of clothes.
Daniel B*, one of the deportees, recalled extreme violence: “They kept hitting me in the stomach, and when I tried to breathe, I started to choke on the blood. My cellmates shouted for help, saying they were killing us, but the officers said they just wanted to make us suffer.” Another inmate described being hit with batons upon arrival for failing to comply with orders to kneel, and told that “you have arrived in hell” by the prison director.
Sexual Abuse and Psychological Trauma
Three former detainees told rights groups that they were subjected to sexual violence. One described being forced by four guards to perform oral sex. Beyond physical assaults, the prisoners reported severe psychological abuse, including constant threats that they would never leave the prison and that their families had given up on them. Flavio T* said: “The hardest part was that the guards told us we would never get out of there, that our families had given us up for dead.”
In an effort to protest the violence, some detainees staged a hunger strike and a “blood strike,” in which they cut themselves with a sharpened piece of aluminium and used the blood to display a banner reading “we are migrants, not terrorists.” Despite these protests, abuse reportedly continued.
Arrival and Detention Procedures
Upon arrival in El Salvador, deportees were ordered to kneel with heads down. Gonzalo Y*, who has a spinal condition, reported being struck in the neck with a baton when attempting to explain his disability. Many detainees were shaved bald and forced to submit to humiliating inspections, and several reported that the “special” water provided for drinking and bathing was contaminated with worms and vermin. Medical care was largely unavailable; 37 of 40 former detainees reported falling ill during detention, often with no treatment provided.
U.S. Deportation Program and Government Response
The deportations were carried out under former President Donald Trump’s migration crackdown. Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, told Independent UK: “President Trump is committed to keeping his promises to the American people by removing dangerous criminal and terrorist illegal aliens who pose a threat to the American public. The mainstream media should spend their time and energy amplifying the stories of Angel Parents, whose innocent American children have tragically been murdered by vicious illegal aliens that President Trump is removing from the country.”
Human Rights Concerns
International observers, including Amnesty International and Freedom House, have highlighted the risks of arbitrary detentions, torture, and deaths under state custody in El Salvador. Rights groups estimate that up to one-third of those detained under the State of Exception are innocent. CECOT’s operations, including those involving deported migrants, have drawn particular scrutiny, raising questions about U.S. policy when sending individuals to facilities with documented human rights abuses.
Repatriation and Aftermath
The 252 Venezuelan migrants were released back to Venezuela in July 2025. Former detainees reported that, just days before leaving, guards staged cosmetic improvements — bringing in mattresses, cleaning the cells, and providing basic amenities — likely for media appearances. Despite the release, many former detainees continue to suffer from severe psychological trauma and physical health issues, compounded by the fear and abuse they endured during their incarceration.
Conclusion:
The accounts collected by Independent UK reveal the extreme brutality faced by Venezuelan migrants deported to El Salvador. The reports raise urgent questions about the ethics of deportation policies that place individuals in the custody of institutions known for human rights violations. Human rights advocates warn that without greater oversight, practices at CECOT may set a dangerous precedent for the treatment of deported migrants in other countries.
