Given the complaints that many of those deported from the United States sent to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) of El Salvador have no links with organized crime, the Human Rights Watch Organization (HRW) explains what steps the relatives should follow.
After the deportation of dozens of people under the law of foreign enemies by the government of US President Donald Trump, and his seclusion in the CECOT, concerns arose between relatives and human rights defenders.
The doubts about the legality of the transfer and respect for the human rights of the detainees increased after the Salvadoran President, Nayib Bikele, published a video in which Venezuelan migrants are observed in the CECOT.
Some people identified their relatives in the images disseminated by Bukele, while others ensure that their relatives disappeared from the public records of the detention centers in the United States, which increases uncertainty over their whereabouts, according to Cables from the AFP news agency.
The United States has pointed out those deported towards El Salvador to be alleged members of the Venezuelan Criminal Band Train of Aragua and gang members.
Given this, HRW recommended that the families of deportees seek legal advice and contact human rights organizations to document cases.
According to Juanita Goebertus, director for the Americas of HRW, relatives can seek support in different entities that work in the defense of migrants.
We are documenting these cases and we have contact with non -governmental organizations that are litigating in the United States, Goebertus told the CNN chain.
In addition, in an interview with the BBC chain, he warned: in this case, we are very concerned that they are being sent to El Salvador, a country in which we have been able to document that for three years of the exception regime under the government of Bukele, the prison and prison system is a system of commission of mass violations of human rights.
Details
The CECOT, the megacárcel symbol of the “war” against the gangs of the Bukele government, houses since last weekend deported migrants from the United States, accused of being members of the Transnational Train of Aragua, and whose legal status and detention conditions are unknown.
This prison, with capacity for 40 thousand people, was built to recount those considered “more dangerous” gang members of the country. It currently houses 14,500 inmates, to which more than 200 migrants are added, mostly Venezuelans.
Five keys on the CECOT
Symbol of combat gangs
The CECOT began operating in February 2023, within the framework of the exception regime implemented to face gangs, responsible for much of homicides in the country. It is located in an isolated area of Tecoluca, more than 75 kilometers from the capital, San Salvador. The income is restricted and the visit of relatives or lawyers is not allowed.
Who are arrested?
It houses leaders of La Mara Salvatrucha (MS13), the 18th neighborhood and clique leaders. They were transferred from other prisons after mass arrests. According to the Minister of Justice and Security, Gustavo Villatoro, there are 14,500 inmates in the enclosure.
Are there human rights violations?
Although organizations have denounced abuse in various prisons, there are no verifiable reports on the CECOT, due to lack of access. The lawyer Dina Martínez, from Fespad, points out that only some content creators are allowed, whose publications exalt positive aspects of the place.
Deaths are not reported
Ingrid Escobar, of a humanitarian legal relief, said that, according to the available data, in the CECOT there have been no deaths or torture. In October 2023, the director of the prison assured that the rights to health and penitentiary treatment are respected.
What is known about migrants?
The condition of Venezuelan migrants held or how many belong to the Aragua train is unknown. Nor has it been clarified if the Savior incurs possible legal responsibilities upon receiving these deported persons without due process.