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Trump Administration Sends 261 Alleged Gang Members to El Salvador's Controversial CECOT Prison

The $6 million US-El Salvador agreement faces criticism over lack of evidence, inhumane conditions, and escalating tensions with Venezuela.

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
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Overview

  • The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport 261 alleged gang members, mostly Venezuelans, to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison.
  • CECOT, built in 2022 under President Nayib Bukele's anti-crime strategy, is notorious for its harsh conditions, including overcrowding, constant surveillance, and lack of basic amenities.
  • Human rights organizations and Venezuela's government have condemned the deportations, citing insufficient evidence and allegations of inhumane treatment at the prison.
  • Families of detainees can file complaints with El Salvador's Human Rights and Freedom of Expression Commission, but the process is widely seen as unlikely to yield results.
  • Venezuela has demanded the return of its citizens, further straining relations with the US and El Salvador over the controversial agreement.