A report from Human Rights Watch and the advocacy group Cristosal alleges that 252 Venezuelan nationals deported by the US government to El Salvador were tortured and ill-treated. The individuals were held incommunicado at El Salvador's Center for Terrorism Confinement, where they reportedly faced arbitrary detention, sexual abuse, and systematic abuse in inhumane conditions.
The organizations state that the Trump administration paid El Salvador nearly five million dollars to detain the group, which was labeled as members of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization. Data from the report indicates that only a small percentage had violent crime convictions, with nearly half having no criminal history. US courts later ruled that the administration could not use the Alien Enemies Act for these deportations, as the law applies only during a declared war or invasion.
The detained Venezuelans have since been returned to their home country.
The organizations state that the Trump administration paid El Salvador nearly five million dollars to detain the group, which was labeled as members of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization. Data from the report indicates that only a small percentage had violent crime convictions, with nearly half having no criminal history. US courts later ruled that the administration could not use the Alien Enemies Act for these deportations, as the law applies only during a declared war or invasion.
The detained Venezuelans have since been returned to their home country.
