The Trump administration has struck a deal with El Salvador’s president allowing the US to ship detained migrants and imprisoned citizens to the Central American nation. The agreement suspends some basic rights in El Salvador as it battles powerful street gangs.
El Salvador has seen over 84,000 arrests since March 2022, many without due process. The country’s prisons are notorious for violence and overcrowding. President Nayib Bukele has made the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a mega-prison with 40,000 inmates, a hallmark of his fight against crime.
Under the CECOT, prisoners face harsh conditions, including cells that hold up to 70 people, no visits, and no programs for rehabilitation. Human rights advocates have criticized the prison system, citing cases of abuse, torture, and lack of medical attention. At least 261 people have died in El Salvador’s prisons during the gang crackdown.
The US government has expressed concerns about the treatment of American citizens in El Salvador’s prisons. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that there are “legalities involved,” but praised the agreement as a “generous offer.” The deal allows for the deportation of migrants and prisoners, including those with no connection to gangs.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-to-know-about-the-el-salvadorian-mega-prison-trump-has-promised-to-send-u-s-prisoners