The harsh regulations within the facility known as the ‘world’s worst prison’ have come to light following the arrival of the first immigrants from the United States.
The immigrants were taken to El Salvador’s maximum-security Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT), which opened in 2023 and ranks among the largest prisons globally, currently housing tens of thousands accused of gang affiliations.
A deal was established between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, directing the immigrants to CECOT.
Bukele subsequently released images of the inmates being transported from the plane to the facility in a heavily secured convoy.
He stated that the ‘first 238 members of the Venezuelan criminal organization’ had arrived and noted that ‘the United States will incur a minimal cost for them, while it will be significant for us.’
In a Twitter post, he remarked: “As always, we continue to make progress in the battle against organized crime. This time, we are also assisting our allies, making our prison system self-sustaining, and acquiring crucial intelligence to enhance the safety of our nation—all through a single initiative.
“May God bless El Salvador, and may God bless the United States.”
Reports indicate that guards shaved the inmates’ heads.
Trump expressed on Truth Social: “These are monsters sent into our Country by Crooked Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats. How dare they!”
Gratitude is extended to El Salvador, particularly to President Bukele, for recognizing the gravity of the distressing situation that has arisen in the United States due to the leadership of the Democratic Party.
“We will not forget.”
Former President Trump has refuted any allegations of misconduct regarding the deportation of immigrants. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement asserting, “A single judge in a single city cannot dictate the operations of an aircraft carrier filled with foreign terrorists who have been forcibly removed from U.S. territory.”
CECOT is notorious for its inhumane and overcrowded living conditions, where inmates are compelled to compete for basic necessities such as food and water.
The facility is lined with rows of metal bunk beds devoid of mattresses or blankets, resulting in individuals sleeping on top of one another due to the lack of space.
Each cell contains two toilets and two basins, all visible to the rest of the inmates. There are no windows, fans, or air conditioning available.
Additionally, there is no outdoor recreational area, and inmates are permitted to leave their cells only for online hearings or solitary confinement.
Miguel Sarre, a former member of the United Nations Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture, characterized the prison as a ‘concrete and steel pit.’
While the maximum capacity is 40,000, Sarre claims that the facility operates under a ‘perverse calculation to dispose of individuals without formally imposing the death penalty.’
Upon arrival, inmates are required to have their heads shaved and will undergo this procedure every five days. They are mandated to wear a white t-shirt and shorts for the duration of their imprisonment.
Cutlery is not provided, necessitating that they eat with their hands, and the artificial lighting remains constantly illuminated.
Hooded guards oversee the area from an elevated position, armed with firearms.
Last year, BBC News Mundo correspondent Leire Venta reported on the conditions within the facility: “Although it is the middle of the night, the artificial lights remain constantly illuminated. A slight breeze filters through the lattice ceiling, offering a momentary relief from the oppressive heat.
“During the day, temperatures in the cells can soar to 35°C, and there is no alternative means of ventilation. Hooded guards maintain their watch from above, weapons in hand.
“Below, inmates ascend the four-tiered bunks where they sleep. Lacking mattresses or sheets, they are forced to rest on cold metal surfaces.
“They consume the provided meals – which consist of rice, beans, hard-boiled eggs, or pasta – using only their hands.”