Particle.news
Download on the App Store
4 ARTICLES
·
2h ago

HRW, Cristosal Allege Torture of U.S.-Deported Venezuelans at El Salvador’s CECOT

Investigators say U.S. deportations enabled abuses, linking the flights to a prisoner swap, with court filings describing U.S. payments.

Salvadoran police officers escort an alleged member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua recently deported by the U.S. government to be imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison, as part of an agreement with the Salvadoran government, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, in this handout image obtained March 16, 2025. Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
La llegada de presuntos integrantes de la organización criminal venezolana Tren de Aragua al CECOT de la ciudad de Tecoluca, El Salvador, el 16 de marzo de 2025. (Foto de OFICINA DE PRENSA DE LA PRESIDENCIA DE EL SALVADOR / AFP)

Overview

  • Human Rights Watch and Cristosal published a report alleging systematic torture, sexual violence and forced disappearances of Venezuelans detained in El Salvador’s CECOT after U.S. deportations in March and April.
  • The groups say they interviewed 40 of the 252 deported Venezuelans and about 150 others, reviewed injury photos and records, and used independent forensic analysis to corroborate accounts.
  • The report concludes roughly half of those sent to CECOT had no criminal convictions and about 3% had U.S. convictions for violent or potentially violent crimes.
  • Family members and lawyers cited in the report say at least 62 people were expelled while U.S. asylum applications were still pending.
  • The Department of Homeland Security defended the removals, describing nearly 300 deportees as terrorists from Tren de Aragua and MS-13, while court filings referenced a prisoner exchange that freed 10 U.S. citizens or residents and reported U.S. payments of at least $4.7 million to El Salvador.