'It Was a Nightmare': Venezuelans Deported to El Salvador Recall Harrowing Prison Conditions

The Horrific Experience of Venezuelan Migrants in El Salvador's Cecot Prison

For months, a group of 252 Venezuelan migrants endured what they describe as a brutal and inhumane experience inside El Salvador’s Center for Terrorism Confinement, known as Cecot. According to their accounts, the migrants were subjected to physical and psychological torture by prison guards, denied proper medical care, and lacked any form of due process.

José Mora, one of the detainees, shared his harrowing experience, stating that the guards tortured them both physically and psychologically. He recounted hearing other detainees cry out for help, shouting, “Mom, help!” Rafael Martínez, another former detainee, echoed these sentiments, describing the ordeal as a nightmare. Their four-month stay at Cecot ended on Friday when El Salvador agreed to release all 252 migrants as part of a prisoner exchange deal between the US and Venezuela.

Mora and Martínez are now back with their families in Venezuela, where they have spoken out about their treatment, which they claim violated their human rights. Despite repeated attempts to reach out to the Salvadoran presidency for comment on these allegations, no response has been received. In the past, the government has stated that it respects the human rights of individuals in its custody, regardless of nationality, and that its prison system adheres to security and order standards.

Deported to a Foreign Prison

According to records, Martinez faced robbery charges in the US, pleaded guilty, and was released on bail before being arrested and sent to the Salvadoran prison. Mora, on the other hand, had served a sentence in Venezuela for drug possession-related offenses. In the United States, he had received traffic violations, according to official records.

Like many other Venezuelan migrants sent to El Salvador from the US, Mora and Martínez claim that US officials wrongly accused them of being members of the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua. Despite their denials, they were deported from the US in March. Initially, they believed they would be flown back to Venezuela, but upon landing, they realized they had been sent to a different country.

Salvadoran officials boarded the deportation plane and ordered them to exit, according to the detainees. Martínez said the officials forced them out by beating them and held their heads down as they were escorted onto buses. They were then taken to Cecot, where the abuse continued.

Harsh Conditions and Alleged Abuse

Upon arrival at Cecot, the migrants were forced to kneel on the ground while officers shaved their heads and confiscated their belongings, including jewelry and US dollars. Mora recalled a senior prison worker telling him, “Welcome to hell. You will never get out of here. You will not see the light of day.”

The conditions in the mega-prison were described as punishing. The detainees slept on metal bunks without mattresses, shared cells with nine others, ate the same meatless meals every day, and were allowed to shower only once per day at 4 a.m. Those who disobeyed faced beatings or had their food taken away.

Martínez alleged that he was once punished for putting his head through the cell bars when he felt sick. He was taken to a different cell, where about eight guards beat him and fractured his right arm. In response to the harsh treatment, the prisoners launched a hunger strike demanding basic human rights, access to lawyers, and the press.

However, this act of defiance led to a fierce response, according to Mora. He said that when they protested, the guards shot at them point-blank with rubber bullets into the cell. “We were like chickens or rats locked up,” he said. “They shot us with rubber bullets.”

A Sudden Change in Treatment

At a certain point, some of the prisoners began losing hope until their treatment suddenly changed about a week ago. The guards gave them new haircuts, fed them “good” meals like burgers and pizza, and provided them with new clothes. Martínez said, “We thought something good could be coming.”

Indeed, they were being released from prison. On Friday, they were let out of their cells and taken to an airport, where planes were waiting to fly them back to Venezuela. The release came as part of a deal between Caracas and Washington, which guaranteed the release of all 252 Venezuelan migrants from El Salvador in exchange for 10 US nationals and dozens of political prisoners held in Venezuela.

A Second Chance in Venezuela

The migrants landed in Venezuela on Friday night and underwent several days of health, immigration, and criminal background checks, among other procedures. By Monday night, some were gradually allowed to reunite with their families across the country.

Mora and Martínez, now back in their home country, say they are happy to be back and plan to stay there to restart their lives and careers. When asked if he would ever return to the US, Martínez said, “No, lest they accuse me of being a terrorist.” He added, “God gave me another opportunity. One must take advantage and move forward.”