The U.S. has deported hundreds of mostly Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, where they are being held without trial in the country’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a mega-prison known for its severe conditions.
During a February visit from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele offered to incarcerate criminals deported from the U.S. in CECOT.
On March 15, the Trump administration deported 261 individuals to El Salvador. Of these, 137 were sent under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, accused of being members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, though details on their cases remain sparse. A U.S. official stated in court filings that many had no prior U.S. convictions but were deemed a threat.
The deported individuals, including 101 additional Venezuelans, were placed in CECOT for a one-year renewable term. The U.S. paid El Salvador $6 million to accept them, the White House confirmed. The remaining 23 deportees were identified as Salvadoran gang members.
Opened in February 2023, CECOT is Latin America’s largest prison, with a capacity for 40,000 inmates. The facility, spanning 57 acres (23 hectares), is located 70 km (43.5 miles) east of San Salvador. Bukele stated in November that it cost $115 million to construct and equip.
The prison is central to Bukele’s security crackdown, which has led to a sharp decline in homicides. His government declared a state of emergency in 2022, arresting over 84,000 individuals, including members of MS-13 and Barrio 18 gangs.
Official reports listed 14,500 inmates in CECOT as of August 2024. However, a government spokesperson declined to provide a current figure in March 2025, citing security reasons.
CECOT has drawn criticism for its harsh conditions. Images from inside the facility show prisoners packed together, heads shaved, and dressed only in shorts. There are no outdoor recreational spaces, and family visits are not allowed.
A September 2024 report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights flagged overcrowding, noting that inmates had an average of 0.60 square meters (6.45 square feet) of space—far below international standards.
Since the state of emergency began, civil society groups have reported over 6,000 human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and 366 deaths in state custody. The government denies these allegations.
CECOT has garnered both praise and condemnation. Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich lauded the facility in June 2024, calling it a model for tough-on-crime policies. A U.S. Republican delegation led by then-Representative Matt Gaetz visited a month later.
Meanwhile, human rights organizations have accused El Salvador of violating international legal standards. Reports cite allegations of torture, mass trials, and indefinite detention. YouTube videos showcasing the prison’s harsh conditions have attracted millions of views.
Bukele has defended the prison, declaring in August that “gang members will spend their entire lives in prison.” Justice Minister Gustavo Villatoro reinforced this stance, stating in 2023 that those sent to CECOT “will never leave on foot.”
Global oil prices reached a four year high on Monday (9 March), surpassing $...
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled o...
Kyrgyzstan recorded the largest increase in women’s representation in parliament worldwide in 2025, accordin...
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washin...
Türkiye’s official anti-disinformation agency has issued a statement refuting what it described as onli...
Global oil prices reached a four year high on Monday (9 March), surpassing $119 a barrel, as conflict in the Middle East rumbled on. Meanwhile, the Turkish Military said NATO air defence systems destroyed a missile fired from Iran towards the country.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new leader, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, with President Masoud Pezeshkian saying his leadership “will herald a new era of dignity and authority for the Iranian nation.”.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washington and Westminster deepened over the conflict involving Iran. The call came less than a day after Trump criticised Britain’s response to U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
Norwegian police are searching for a suspect after an explosion at the U.S. embassy in Oslo on 8 March caused minor damage but no injuries, in what authorities say may have been a deliberate attack linked to the Middle East crisis.
An explosion damaged a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège early on Monday (9 March) in what authorities said was an antisemitic attack that caused damage but no injuries.
The Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers will meet on Monday to discuss a global rise in oil prices and a joint release of oil from emergency reserves coordinated by the International Energy Agency, the Financial Times reports.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 9th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment