US Deportees Face Harsh Conditions in El Salvador’s Cecot Prison

In El Salvador’s notorious Cecot prison, men deported from the United States are being held under the same harsh conditions as the country’s most dangerous criminals, according to the prison’s director, Belarmino García. During a recent tour, the first by a major U.S. news outlet since the latest deportation flight, García confirmed that the deportees, regardless of their background, face no special treatment. This means they are subjected to the same severe conditions as convicted gang members.

The deportees, including individuals accused of links to notorious gangs such as Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua or MS-13, live in overcrowded communal cells with up to 100 men each. These cells are stark, with no privacy and little to no amenities—just rows of metal bunks stacked without mattresses or pillows. The men are confined to their cells for 23.5 hours a day, with only limited movement. They are also subjected to the same security measures as the rest of the prison population, including having their heads shaved and being monitored constantly.

Among those deported is Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a father of three and a sheet metal worker from Maryland, who was mistakenly deported due to an administrative error. His case is currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court, which extended the deadline for his return.

The deportees are held in Sector 8, a part of Cecot known as the Terrorism Confinement Center. Access to this sector is restricted, and no media is allowed inside. García, however, shared details of how Salvadoran inmates participate in court hearings. They are removed from their cells under heavy guard and brought to a room equipped for video conferencing with judges and lawyers.

Cecot houses both convicted criminals and individuals awaiting trial. Due to the ongoing state of emergency in El Salvador, many have been detained without due process, and some have already been released after being mistakenly incarcerated. The government’s emergency measures, which have suspended many constitutional rights, have led to a significant increase in the prison population. García noted that the number of inmates has been steadily rising, approaching the facility’s maximum capacity of 40,000.

The prison is designed to be self-contained, with eight sectors that include medical facilities and conference rooms for court hearings. Inmates are constantly watched through bars, and the lights are kept on 24/7. There are even guards stationed on catwalks above the cells, ensuring that prisoners have no moments of privacy. The cells are minimalist, with no personal belongings allowed, and the inmates must use an open toilet. Water is provided in large jugs, and washing is done in a cement basin.

Contraband checks are routine. When prisoners are taken from their cells, their hands are cuffed behind them, and they are marched to designated spots in the prison yard in tight formations. Security is a major concern, and the facility is heavily fortified with electric fences and watchtowers.

The prison, which was constructed in just seven months and opened in January 2023, houses thousands of inmates, with many being deported from the U.S. under harsh policies. President Nayib Bukele’s government touts the prison as a symbol of effective control and improved security in a country that has long been plagued by gang violence. However, critics argue that Cecot Prison represents a troubling erosion of human rights and due process, highlighting the dangers of unchecked state power.

For many Salvadorans, though, Cecot Prison represents a return to security after years of chaos. It stands as a stark example of the tough measures Bukele’s government has implemented in its war against organized crime, while also serving as a warning to those who might consider breaking the law in the U.S.