El Salvador’s infamous mega-prison, CECOT, is now playing a major role in Donald Trump’s latest immigration crackdown. Over the weekend, hundreds of deported migrants, allegedly linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, were sent to the high-security facility.
Trump Strikes Deal to Send Migrants to El Salvador Mega Prison
The transfer happened under a controversial agreement between Trump’s administration and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. The U.S. will pay six million dollars to house deported individuals in CECOT for one year.
This move came despite a federal judge’s order temporarily blocking the deportations. The order cited concerns over human rights and the use of an 18th-century wartime law to justify the mass removal. However, the flights proceeded as planned.
Inside CECOT: The Harshest Prison in the Americas
Bukele built CECOT, officially known as the Terrorism Confinement Center, as part of his brutal anti-gang campaign. Located in Tecoluca, 72 kilometers from the capital, the prison can hold up to 40,000 inmates.
Prisoners inside live under extreme conditions. They are denied visits, outdoor time, or education programs. Cells, each holding 65 to 70 inmates, lack enough beds, forcing many to sleep on the floor.
Security footage from inside CECOT has shown prisoners marching half-naked, sitting in overcrowded corridors, and undergoing strict physical training under armed guards’ supervision.
El Salvador’s Soaring Prison Population
Bukele’s crackdown has overloaded El Salvador’s prisons. By March 2024, the human rights organization Cristosal reported that 110,000 people were imprisoned, nearly triple the number from 2021.
Critics accuse Bukele’s government of human rights abuses. Reports claim that at least 261 prisoners have died due to torture, medical neglect, and inhumane conditions.
Trump Uses 18th-Century Wartime Law for Deportations
Trump justified the mass deportations by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. This law, used only three times in U.S. history, allows the president to detain or remove foreigners during wartime.
Trump labeled Tren de Aragua as an invasive force threatening the U.S. However, the administration has not provided evidence proving the deported men were actual gang members or involved in crimes.
Shocking Footage of Migrants’ Arrival at CECOT
Video released by El Salvador’s government showed the deported men shackled, struggling to walk as officers forced their heads down. They were transported in a convoy of heavily guarded buses, escorted by military vehicles and at least one helicopter.
Upon arrival, they were lined up, forced to kneel, and had their heads shaved before changing into CECOT’s all-white prison uniforms.
Brutal Measures or Necessary Action
Critics argue that sending migrants to a prison notorious for gang members and extreme conditions is a human rights violation. Others see it as Trump’s toughest move yet in his fight against illegal immigration.
The El Salvador mega prison is now a key part of Trump’s aggressive border policies. Whether this strategy reduces crime or fuels further controversy remains to be seen.
Despite a federal judge’s last-minute attempt to block the deportations, the flights landed, and the prisoners were immediately transferred to CECOT.
Under a deal with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, Trump’s administration will pay six million dollars for one year. This is for services to house the deported migrants.
Inside CECOT: The Harshest Prison in the Americas
CECOT, or the Terrorism Confinement Center, is one of the largest and most secure prisons in the world. Opened in 2023 in Tecoluca, 72 kilometers from the capital, it can hold up to 40,000 inmates.
Prisoners at CECOT have no access to visitors, outdoor spaces, or rehabilitation programs. Cells hold between 65 and 70 inmates each, with minimal beds, forcing many to sleep on the floor.
Security footage from inside the prison shows inmates forced to march half-naked, sit in overcrowded rows. And they undergo extreme discipline under the supervision of heavily armed guards.
El Salvador’s Prison Crisis Worsens
El Salvador’s prison population has skyrocketed under Bukele’s anti-gang crackdown. In March 2024, the human rights organization Cristosal reported that 110,000 people were imprisoned, nearly triple the number in 2021.
Rights groups have accused authorities of abuse, torture, and medical neglect inside CECOT. Also, reports claim that at least 261 prisoners have died due to inhumane conditions since the mass incarceration wave began.
Trump’s Hardline Immigration Tactics Spark Controversy
Trump’s decision to use CECOT for deported migrants is unprecedented. The U.S. government has not provided evidence so far. Are the deported men are actual members of Tren de Aragua or have committed crimes in the U.S.?
Footage released by El Salvador’s government shows migrants shackled, struggling to walk as officers push their heads down. Additionally, they were later transported in a heavily guarded convoy, forced to kneel while getting their heads shaved as well as placed in CECOT’s overcrowded cells.
Tough Measures or Human Rights Concern
Critics argue that sending migrants to a prison notorious for gang members and brutal conditions violates international human rights standards. Others see it as Trump’s toughest stance yet on immigration, signaling that the U.S. will no longer tolerate undocumented migrants with criminal ties.
The El Salvador mega prison is now a symbol of Trump’s extreme measures. Whether this move will reduce crime or fuel further controversy remains to be seen.
