US Deportees Face Dire Conditions at El Salvador’s Infamous Mega-Prison

EL SALVADOR — The U.S. government transported more than 200 men to El Salvador‘s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center, known as Cecot, despite a temporary court order blocking the transfer. President Nayib Bukele’s harsh crime crackdown has led to widespread human rights abuses in the nation’s overcrowded prison system, drawing sharp criticism from human rights groups.

The Cecot prison, designed to hold up to 40,000 inmates, has rapidly filled since Bukele declared a state of emergency in March 2022, allowing authorities to arrest suspects based merely on gang affiliation accusations. With this controversial policy, the prison now houses not only Salvadoran inmates but also U.S. deportees, many from Venezuela, sparking serious concerns about their treatment.

Mneesha Gellman, a political scientist at Emerson College who specializes in human rights and violence, highlighted the dire environment awaiting these deportees. “We don’t know how any of this will play out, because it’s never exactly happened before,” Gellman said. “These are Venezuelans being deported to a country most of them have never been.”

Reports have emerged detailing the abysmal conditions within the prison system, characterized by overcrowding, inadequate food, and insufficient sanitation. “People are locked in their cells for the majority of the time,” Gellman noted.

Returning prisoners often share harrowing accounts of their experiences. Some former detainees have described witnessing deaths in their cells, only for the bodies to remain for days without any action taken. The lack of communication with the outside world, a strict policy enforced by the Bukele administration, exacerbates the uncertainty and fear among inmates’ families.

“There’s almost no medical access,” Gellman explained, emphasizing that diabetics might not receive necessary insulin. Reports indicate conditions are similarly bleak for Venezuelans who have been deported, with systemic torture becoming a regular occurrence within Salvadoran prisons.

Given the U.S. government’s accusations of gang membership against these deportees, Gellman expressed concern that they could become targets within the prison system. “Rival gangs may see them as threats. They could be targeted for violence based on perceptions about their connections to U.S. gangs,” she said.

Critics have also raised concerns about the use of tattoos as a basis for detention. “Tattoos, even innocuous ones, have led to individuals being flagged as gang members,” Gellman stated. Under the state of exception, such markers have resulted in arbitrary arrests, creating a climate of fear among ordinary Salvadorans.

The alarming situation has drawn parallels between Bukele and former U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Gellman describes as sharing authoritarian traits. “Both are populist right-wing leaders using their power in ways that undermine democratic norms,” she said, stressing the need for accountability and protection of human rights.

El Salvador is facing unprecedented levels of incarceration, now boasting one of the highest rates in the world. Bukele has implemented policies that allow law enforcement to arrest individuals based solely on superficial traits associated with gang membership, such as tattoos or demographic characteristics.

Since Bukele took office in 2019, his administration has also sought to silence dissent, leading to further scrutiny of conditions within the prison system. Reports of systemic violence against inmates and dehumanizing treatment dominate the narrative emerging from prison investigations.

A current climate of fear has cast a shadow on the Salvadoran populace, as families grapple with the loss of contact with incarcerated loved ones. Young children left in the care of extended family are left without certainty about their parents’ wellbeing.

The scope of human rights violations in El Salvador raises questions about the U.S. government’s decision to transfer deportees into such a perilous environment. As Gellman pointed out, this situation demands urgent attention, shedding light on the need for a more humane and just approach to immigration policy.