Mao and Stalin would be so jealous… 261 deaths in Salvadoran prisons

This prison violates the U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners

San Salvador — One of the world’s largest prisons, able to hold 40,000 inmates, has become a controversial symbol of El Salvador‘s extreme approach to crime and a focal point of international scrutiny. The controversial Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), officially opened in January 2023, is now at the center of a contentious agreement between the Trump administration and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.

The Mega-Prison

CECOT, located in Tecoluca, about 45 miles east of the capital, consists of eight expansive pavilions. Each cell is designed to accommodate 65 to 70 prisoners, with a total capacity that makes it the largest correctional facility in Latin America. The prison’s austere conditions are striking:

• Cells contain only stacked metal bunks without mattresses or sheets
• An open toilet, cement wash basin, and water containers are the only amenities
• Inmates are confined for 23.5 hours daily
• No visitation, recreation, or education programs are allowed

Focal point of international concern as it receives hundreds of deportees from the United States.

The facility, designed to hold up to 40,000 inmates, is now at the center of a contentious agreement between the Trump administration and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. The prison’s austere conditions have drawn criticism from human rights organizations worldwide. Cells are equipped with only stacked metal bunks without mattresses or sheets, an open toilet, a cement wash basin, and water containers.

In a recent development, the Trump administration deported hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members to CECOT, including 238 accused of belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang. This move has sparked international controversy, with human rights organizations condemning the expulsions as unlawful and dangerous.

Inmates at CECOT face extreme isolation, confined to their cells for 23.5 hours daily. The prison offers no visitation, recreation, or education programs. Critics argue that these conditions violate the U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

Human rights organizations have expressed grave concerns about the situation.

Amnesty International has described it as a “human rights crisis,” while Human Rights Watch has documented extensive violations during El Salvador’s ongoing state of emergency.

The Salvadoran government maintains that those incarcerated at CECOT will never return to their communities, raising questions about the long-term implications of this approach to incarceration. Public Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro stated, “We believe in rehabilitation, but only for ordinary criminals,” during a CNN visit to the facility.

Families and lawyers of the deportees fear for their safety and well-being.

The lack of communication with relatives and legal representation has left many in a state of uncertainty. Human rights organizations are barred from entering the facility, and media access is limited, making it difficult to assess the true conditions inside CECOT.

Reports of overcrowding, torture, and other abuses within the Salvadoran prison system have been documented by various organizations. In 2022, the human rights organization Cristosal reported at least 261 deaths in Salvadoran prisons.

President Bukele has touted the country’s mass incarceration strategy as a success, claiming it has made El Salvador “the safest country in the Western Hemisphere.” However, critics argue that this approach comes at a significant cost to human rights and due process.

The Salvadoran government recently announced that families of Venezuelan deportees held in CECOT can petition for their release. However, the effectiveness and fairness of this process remain to be seen.

As international pressure mounts, questions arise about the long-term consequences of such extreme incarceration practices. The situation at CECOT serves as a stark reminder of the complex interplay between crime prevention, human rights, and international relations.

The fate of those detained in CECOT, including the recently arrived U.S. deportees, remains uncertain.

As the world watches, the mega-prison stands as a symbol of El Salvador’s controversial approach to crime – and a focal point for debates on human rights and justice in the region.

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#CECOTprison #ElSalvadorHumanRights
#USDeportations #MegaPrison

Tags: El Salvador, CECOT, human rights, Trump administration,
deportations, Nayib Bukele, prison conditions, gang crackdown