The mega-prison in El Salvador, known as CECOT, has become a tool in U.S. President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration. On Sunday, hundreds of immigrants facing deportation were transferred to this facility, which is part of El Salvador’s aggressive anti-crime strategy. Visitation, recreation, and education are not allowed in the mega-prison, and it is believed that the immigrants, who are alleged to be members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, will be held there for a year under an agreement between the Trump administration and the government of President Nayib Bukele.

Bukele has made El Salvador’s harsh prisons a focus of his fight against crime. In 2023, the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) was built and opened in the town of Tecoluca, about 45 miles east of the capital. The facility has eight pavilions and can hold up to 40,000 inmates, with each cell accommodating 65 to 70 prisoners. The prisoners do not receive visits, are never allowed outdoors, and the prison does not offer workshops or educational programs to prepare them for life after their sentences.

Occasionally, prisoners who have gained trust from prison officials give motivational talks or participate in exercise regimens under the supervision of guards. The prison’s amenities, such as dining halls, break rooms, gym, and board games, are reserved for guards. In March 2024, El Salvador had 110,000 people behind bars, more than double the 36,000 inmates reported in April 2021. Human rights organizations have accused authorities of human rights violations, including abuse, torture, and lack of medical attention.

The immigrants were deported to CECOT under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which has been used only three times in U.S. history. The act gives the president extraordinary powers to detain or remove foreigners who would otherwise have protections under immigration or criminal laws. Trump invoked the wartime authority, claiming that the Tren de Aragua gang was invading the U.S. The Trump administration has not identified the migrants or provided evidence of their involvement in crimes.

Videos released by El Salvador’s government showed men exiting airplanes and being transported to CECOT in a convoy of buses and helicopters. The men had their heads shaved and changed into the prison’s uniform before being placed in cells.

Source: https://time.com/7268733/el-salvador-mega-prison-cecot-trump-deportations/