Venezuelan migrants who had been detained for months in El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison returned to their homes this week, describing their time behind bars as abusive. Several men and their family members reported the stories of being beaten, kicked, and humiliated while locked up. Some showed visible bruises, news agency Associated Press reported. Their release came after a prisoner exchange deal involving the US, El Salvador, and Venezuela. Ten American citizens, including a former Navy SEAL, were released by Venezuela. In return, over 200 Venezuelan men deported by US under an old wartime law were handed back to the Maduro government after spending four months in El Salvador. These migrants were sent to El Salvador earlier this year after the Trump administration used the Alien Enemies Act to justify their removal, accusing them of being linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. No formal charges were made public. Migrants and their families say that tattoos and appearances were wrongly used as evidence of gang affiliation. Venezuela’s state TV aired video testimonies of released migrants alleging torture, sexual abuse, and severe beatings. Interior minister Diosdado Cabello said only a handful of the deported men faced pending legal cases. The rest, he said, would be allowed to return home after medical checks and background reviews. Venezuelan attorney general Tarek William Saab has also announced an investigation into the allegations against Salvadoran officials. In CECOT, prisoners cannot receive visitors, and hearings happen only via Zoom. Cell signal is blocked within a mile-and-a-half radius surrounding the prison to keep any information from getting out, to contain the power of gangs, which authorities said used to control 85% of the country’s territory.
