No access to jailed Venezuelans, say lawyers in El Salvador

Over 200 Venezuelans deported to El Salvador face legal limbo as lawyers report no access to clients or case details, raising due process concerns under President Bukele’s controversial security policies.

Lawyers representing over 200 Venezuelans detained in El Salvador say they have been denied all access to their clients, raising serious concerns about human rights and due process. The detainees were deported from the United States in March under an agreement with the Salvadoran government and sent directly to the Terrorism Confinement Center, the largest prison in Latin America.

According to legal representatives, including law firm Grupo Ortega, authorities have refused to disclose the whereabouts or conditions of those held. Writs of habeas corpus have been filed at El Salvador’s Supreme Court, but none have received a response. “None of these people have committed a crime in El Salvador,” said Jaime Ortega, general director of the firm.

Human Rights Watch has called on Salvadoran authorities to release a list of detainees, reveal the legal basis for their incarceration, and allow contact with families and lawyers. Local rights group Cristosal, which has filed thousands of unanswered petitions for Salvadorans, is preparing further claims on behalf of the Venezuelans.

President Nayib Bukele’s ongoing state of emergency and crackdown on crime have faced mounting criticism for undermining judicial independence and suspending constitutional protections, including access to legal representation.

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