The Salvadoran government has allowed the families of 238 Venezuelans deported from the United States to petition for their release from the notorious Cecot prison, but experts say the process is unlikely to yield results. The US and El Salvador have been accused of arbitrary detention by rights groups, with allegations that detainees are being subjected to inhumane treatment.
Venezuelans were deported to El Salvador last weekend under President Donald Trump’s administration, along with 23 Salvadorans, on charges of ties to gangs like Tren de Aragua. However, several relatives have denied the allegations and claim their loved ones have been unfairly detained.
The mega-prison, which holds up to 40,000 prisoners, has been criticized for its harsh conditions and treatment of detainees. The US State Department has reported “torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment” by security forces, while Venezuelan officials have accused the Salvadoran government of mistreating their citizens.
The Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has defended his administration’s record, but critics argue that Guzmán’s office, which handles complaints from detained Venezuelans, is more concerned with defending the government than advocating for detainees.
A deal between El Salvador and the US, worth $6 million, has allowed 24 Venezuelan deportees to be housed in Cecot in exchange for assistance to maintain the prison system. However, Venezuelan officials have called for the return of their citizens, while the US has denied any wrongdoing.
The situation has sparked mass discontent among Venezuelans, with demonstrators rejecting allegations against their relatives and demanding they be returned home.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/23/americas/el-salvador-cecot-families-venezuela-latam-intl/index.html