Inhumane Rules Inside ‘World’s Worst Prison’ After First Immigrants From America Arrive

Donald Trump expressed satisfaction on Sunday (March 16) after a flight arrived in El Salvador carrying individuals suspected of being part of a Venezuelan gang.

Despite a federal judge ruling against the move, the Trump administration had ordered the deportation of 238 alleged criminals to a high-security prison in El Salvador. However, the ruling came after the plane had already entered international airspace, with officials maintaining that no legal orders had been defied.

Trump utilized an 18th-century law originally designed for wartime, justifying the deportation by claiming that the U.S. was under ‘invasion’ from a criminal network tied to kidnapping, contract killings, and other organized crimes.

Upon arrival, the detainees were transferred to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT), a massive prison housing tens of thousands of individuals suspected of gang activity. The transfer was part of an agreement between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.

Bukele shared images and footage of the prisoners being restrained and escorted from the aircraft to a heavily guarded transport. He stated that the first group of Venezuelan gang members had arrived, emphasizing that while the U.S. would pay a minimal fee for their incarceration, the burden on El Salvador would be significant.

In a post on social media, Bukele declared: “We are making progress in the fight against organized crime while also supporting our allies, strengthening our prison system, and gathering critical intelligence to enhance national security—all in a single operation. May God bless El Salvador and the United States.”

Meanwhile, Trump took to his platform, Truth Social, to praise the deportation, blaming Joe Biden and the Democratic Party for the presence of these alleged criminals in the U.S.

“These are dangerous individuals sent into our country due to the failures of Crooked Joe Biden and the Radical Left,” Trump wrote. “Thank you to El Salvador and President Bukele for addressing this terrible issue caused by Democrat leadership. We will not forget.”

The Trump administration utilised a law from 1798 to deport the alleged criminals (El Salvador Presidency/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The Trump administration has denied any legal violations after proceeding with the deportation of Venezuelan migrants, despite a judge’s ruling. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the move, asserting that federal courts lack authority over the president’s foreign policy decisions.

In an official statement, Leavitt argued: “No single judge in any city has the power to control the actions of the U.S. government when it comes to removing foreign criminals from our country.”

Senator Marco Rubio also addressed the situation, stating that “hundreds of violent offenders have been expelled” and expressing gratitude to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for facilitating the transfer.

Meanwhile, Trump has further alleged that the Tren de Aragua gang has connections to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Trump claims he did not disobey any court orders (El Salvador Presidency/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Under the president’s directive, any Venezuelan citizen aged 14 or older found to be affiliated with the gang can be “detained, secured, and expelled as an Alien Enemy.”

Trump has accused the gang of orchestrating “mass illegal migration” with the intent to harm American citizens.

Defending his decision, he stated: “For years, Venezuelan authorities have surrendered increasing control of their territories to transnational criminal groups, including TdA. This has created a hybrid criminal state that is actively infiltrating the U.S. and posing a serious threat to national security.”

CECOT: A Controversial Prison

El Salvador’s high-security facility, CECOT, has drawn criticism for its harsh conditions. The prison is notorious for overcrowding, extreme violence, and the mistreatment of inmates. Detainees are crammed into small cells, with minimal food rations such as beans and pasta, often leading to fights over basic necessities like water.

Miguel Sarre, a former member of the United Nations Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture, previously described the facility as a “concrete and steel pit.”