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Venezuelan Deportees Suffer Torture and Disappearance in El Salvador's CECOT

Update A Shocking Human Rights Crisis: Tortured Deportation of VenezuelansA damning report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Cristosal has surfaced allegations of extensive torture and human rights abuses inflicted on Venezuelan deportees at El Salvador's infamous Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). This revelation follows the deportation of 252 Venezuelans from the United States to El Salvador earlier in 2025, raising serious concerns about migrant safety and U.S. complicity in these inhumane practices.The Dire Conditions in CECOTVenezuelans arriving at CECOT described their experiences as entering a waking nightmare. Many reported being subjected to systemic beatings, psychological torment, and horrific sanitary conditions. “They took us off the plane and started beating us,” Gonzalo, a former detainee, recounted. The HRW report states that many detainees were left without access to food, water, and medical care, violating international standards for humane treatment. Images emerging from CECOT showcase overcrowded cells, inadequate facilities, and unrelenting surveillance by guards, who allegedly enforced a regime of violence that any international law should swiftly condemn.Human Rights Violations Under U.S. OversightThe complicity of the U.S. government is troubling. Despite prior knowledge of El Salvador's abysmal human rights record, migrants were forcibly removed from U.S. soil under the Trump administration. Notably, the administration allegedly paid $6 million to the Salvadoran government for detaining these Venezuelan migrants—a practice that raises significant ethical concerns given the documented torture and mistreatment. The HRW report notes that many deportees had not committed any crimes, with significant portions having no prior criminal records whatsoever.A Coalition Against AbusesThis crisis underscores not only the plight of Venezuelan deportees but also calls for action from the global community. International human rights organizations are now advocating for a cessation of deportations to El Salvador, urging immediate investigations into the actions of both Salvadoran and U.S. authorities. With nearly 8 million people having fled Venezuela due to a humanitarian crisis compounded by systemic governmental abuse, the treatment of returned migrants raises urgent questions about human dignity and legal accountability.Conclusion: Advocating for ChangeThe HRW report's revelations should ignite a conversation about accountability and justice for migrants around the world. The horrors faced by these Venezuelans represent a critical juncture in the fight against human rights abuses for those seeking asylum and safety. As we reflect on their stories, it becomes vital to amplify their voices and advocate for an end to the cycle of violence that associates migration with punishment instead of safety.