El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) is once again in the international spotlight following a high-profile visit by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. On Wednesday, Noem toured the high-security facility, where Venezuelan gang members deported under the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies are being held.
The visit comes as the U.S. government faces criticism for deporting individuals to a prison that has been widely condemned by human rights organizations. Noem’s trip is part of the administration’s broader effort to highlight its aggressive immigration crackdown, reinforcing the message that undocumented immigrants who commit crimes in the U.S. will face severe consequences.
A Prison Under Scrutiny
CECOT, touted by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele as a solution to gang violence, has a reputation for harsh conditions. The facility holds up to 40,000 inmates, with cells packed with 65 to 70 individuals who are confined for nearly 24 hours a day. Prisoners have little access to fresh air, subsist on meager rations of beans and pasta, and are monitored around the clock by guards and surveillance cameras.
Human rights groups, including the Due Process of Law Foundation, argue that the prison’s conditions amount to inhumane treatment. Reports of overcrowding, violence, and lack of basic necessities have fueled accusations that the prison functions more as a punishment facility than a place of rehabilitation. The organization Cristosal has reported at least 174 cases of torture and killings within CECOT in the first half of 2024 alone.
U.S.-El Salvador Cooperation on Deportations
Noem’s visit included meetings with Bukele and other Salvadoran officials to discuss increasing the number of deportation flights to El Salvador. A statement from the Department of Homeland Security reiterated the administration’s stance, stating that “removals of violent criminals from the U.S. will continue.”
In an unprecedented move, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Bukele administration has agreed to house not only deported migrants but also dangerous criminals currently serving sentences in the U.S., even if they are American citizens. While such an arrangement has yet to be finalized, legal experts argue that deporting U.S. citizens to another country would violate numerous international laws.
Legal and Ethical Concerns
The decision to send Venezuelan deportees to CECOT stems from Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which grants the president broad powers to remove noncitizens deemed a security threat. The administration claims that the Venezuelans deported earlier this month are linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, an organization Trump has labeled a significant criminal threat. However, opponents argue that the process lacks due process, as deportees are denied the opportunity to challenge their removal in court.
Critics have also compared CECOT’s conditions to a concentration camp, raising concerns that prisoners—many of whom have not been
convicted of crimes—are subjected to inhumane treatment. The opposition party in El Salvador has voiced strong objections to the agreement, with General Secretary Manuel Flores condemning the country’s willingness to accept deported criminals. “What are we? Backyards, front yards, or garbage dumps?” he asked during a press conference.
The Future of U.S.-El Salvador Relations
While Bukele’s administration views CECOT as a key tool in its war on gangs, human rights organizations warn that expanding its use for U.S. deportations could lead to legal and ethical violations. With growing international scrutiny, it remains to be seen whether the U.S. will move forward with its controversial plan to send criminals—both foreign and American—to El Salvador’s mega-prison.
As Noem continues her three-day tour in Latin America, visiting Colombia and Mexico, the global community watches closely to see how U.S. immigration policy will evolve in the face of mounting criticism.
