Inside CECOT, El Salvador's mega-prison for gang members
What's the story
El Salvador's famed megaprison, Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, or CECOT, now houses more than 250 accused gang members following a deal with the Trump administration.
The US government under President Donald Trump has agreed to pay $6 million to President Nayib Bukele's administration for one year of CECOT services.
"This will help us finalize intelligence gathering and go after the last remnants of MS-13, including its former and new members, money, weapons, drugs, hideouts," Salvadoran President Bukele said.
Prison overview
CECOT: A fortress against gang violence
The CECOT, the brainchild of President Bukele's war on crime, was inaugurated in 2023 in Tecoluca.
The facility has eight expansive pavilions and can accommodate up to 40,000 inmates.
Each cell is designed to hold 65-70 prisoners.
However, unlike typical prisons around the world, inmates at CECOT aren't allowed any visits or outdoor activities during their incarceration period.
Conditions
Life inside CECOT: A stark reality
There are no workshops or educational initiatives to help inmates re-enter society after their term.
Sometimes, trusted inmates are invited for motivational talks or exercise sessions under guard supervision.
Dining halls, break rooms, gym, and board games are off-limits to all but guards.
El Salvador's Justice Minister claims those at CECOT would never return to their communities.
Overcrowding
El Salvador's prison population and human rights concerns
As of March 2024, Cristosal said El Salvador had about 110,000 people behind bars. This includes those sentenced to prison as well as those still awaiting trial.
The figure is more than double the 36,000 inmates reported in April 2021 before Bukele ramped up his fight against crime.
However, Cristosal has flagged human rights violations within these facilities, including cases of abuse and torture as well as lack of medical attention.
Deportation
Deportation of gang members to CECOT
The recent deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members to CECOT was a part of Trump's declaration under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
The law provides the president with extraordinary powers to detain or remove foreigners who otherwise would have protections under immigration or criminal laws.
However, the Trump administration has not provided any evidence these migrants are indeed members of the Tren de Aragua gang, or have committed any crimes in the US.
Controversies
CECOT's controversial practices and future plans
Inmates at CECOT are reportedly fed little—rice, beans, eggs, and pasta. Regular fights over food and water break out between rival gang members.
Most inmates are serving centuries-long sentences, or haven't been convicted yet.
President Bukele claimed that the work being done by over 40,000 inmates in various workshops, as part of the "Zero Idleness" program, would help make their prison system self-sustainable.
It currently costs $200 million a year.