Venezuelans in El Salvador's Mega-Prison: Accounts of Abuse

Venezuelan migrants, accused by the United States of affiliations with the Tren de Aragua gang, were observed being moved from El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center to Caracas on July 18, 2025.

Carlos Daniel Terán, aged 19, recollects a foreboding remark by a prison official upon his arrival at the colossal Salvadoran detention facility, known as CECOT.

"We were told that we'd never exit this place alive," Terán disclosed, reflecting on his March transfer from a U.S. immigration detention location in Texas to the high-security compound designated for alleged Salvadoran gang affiliates. A prominent justice official had ominously stated that a coffin was the only way out.

After leaving the prison, Terán, photographed at his aunt's residence in Caracas, recalls the ordeal. Alongside many Venezuelans were deported by the previous U.S. government under seldom-used legal grounds without presenting substantial evidence of gang involvement.

He was without contact with family or legal counsel for almost four months. Suddenly freed as part of a U.S.-Venezuela agreement, he spoke about the experience, contemplating death during his ordeal.

Lives in Limbo

Former prisoners, including Terán and others, recounted stories of torment inside CECOT — mentioning beatings and sexual harassment. They were exposed to minimal sustenance and harsh conditions.

Terán, who lawfully entered the U.S. through a special program, denied any crime in the States, with prior charges in Chile only for minor infractions as a juvenile.

Throughout his incarceration, he found solace in his faith but acknowledged the severe emotional strain, particularly missing familial contact on his birthday.

Facility conditions were dire, with sparse food options and clogged amenities, further compounded by high temperatures without climate control.

Inmates could bathe infrequently, using water from cell basins, without privacy. Sleep was inadequate, constrained by metal surfaces devoid of comfort.

Violence by guards was reportedly rampant. Andry Hernandez shared his own experiences of brutal treatment from masked officials, narrated alongside Terán’s story.

Hernandez, who identifies as gay, described an instance of sexual violence after being caught bathing outside permitted times.

The traumatic CECOT environment was likened to a personal inferno by Hernandez, now reunited with family back in Venezuela.

A Hidden Reality

CECOT, operational since January 2023 under President Nayib Bukele's anti-gang strategy, restricts public insight, with its portrayal managed through curated government content, even during dignitary visits.

Ex-inmates, speaking candidly about their treatment, revealed scarce recreational or spiritual opportunities—interactions largely confined to makeshift games and religious activities.

Enforced silence was expected by guards, contrasting with the inmates' inherent cultural expressiveness.

Upon arrival, violence from guards was immediate. Venezuelan detainees had protested vigorously for the right to communicate externally, resulting in harsh responses.

Desperation led some inmates to harmful, self-inflicted acts to garner attention, Terán and Hernandez confirmed, marking cell walls with blood.

Political Bargaining Tools

The arrangement between the Trump administration and El Salvador saw Venezuelans held in dire conditions without any verifiable criminal associations.

U.S. Homeland Security received, but seemingly disregarded, allegations from the prisoners, maintaining their unverified gang affiliations.

The Salvadoran government also refrained from addressing such severe claims, despite potential indications of human rights violations articulated by rights advocates.

Cristosal, a human rights organization, investigated backgrounds revealed that few had any legal consequences prior to their transfer, highlighting broader due process issues.

Broadly, since emergency measures in 2022, Salvadoran prisons have seen numerous fatalities, with the state exerting heavy authority over detainees without legal recourse.

Hernandez criticized the exploitation of innocent lives for political leverage, questioning the rationale behind El Salvador’s acceptance of these detainees.