Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States 🇺🇸 to El Salvador have faced torture and severe abuse in Salvadoran prisons, according to formal complaints and video evidence released by Venezuelan officials on July 22, 2025. The situation has sparked international outrage, official investigations, and growing calls for accountability from the United States 🇺🇸, El Salvador, and Venezuela 🇻🇪.
Allegations of Torture and Abuse
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced a formal investigation after receiving 123 complaints from Venezuelan migrants who were deported from the United States 🇺🇸 and detained in El Salvador. Many of these migrants described being beaten, sexually assaulted, and denied basic rights while held at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a prison in El Salvador known for its harsh conditions. Saab presented video evidence showing detainees with injuries that matched their stories of abuse by Salvadoran prison guards.
Medical checks on the returned migrants revealed serious injuries. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello confirmed that some Venezuelan migrants suffered broken bones, internal injuries, and in at least one case, the loss of a kidney due to repeated beatings. These findings have led Venezuelan authorities to demand answers from El Salvador and to promise legal and medical support for the victims.
How Did This Happen?
In February 2025, the United States 🇺🇸 and El Salvador reached a secret agreement. Under this deal, El Salvador agreed to accept migrants deported from the United States 🇺🇸 for indefinite detention at CECOT. The United States 🇺🇸 used the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a rarely used law, to quickly deport these migrants—mostly Venezuelan men—often accusing them of gang ties without strong evidence. Many were linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, but human rights groups say most had no real connection to criminal activity.
The United States 🇺🇸 reportedly paid El Salvador $6 million to hold these migrants. Over 250 Venezuelan and Salvadoran men were sent to El Salvador under this arrangement. Once there, they were held incommunicado, meaning they could not contact family, lawyers, or even their own consulates. They were denied basic necessities and kept in overcrowded cells, according to reports from human rights groups and United Nations experts.
International Response and Investigations
The news of torture and abuse has led to strong reactions from many sides:
- Venezuelan Government: Officials are investigating the abuses, demanding accountability from El Salvador, and providing medical and legal help to the returned migrants.
- El Salvador: President Nayib Bukele and his administration deny any wrongdoing. However, they now face growing international pressure and calls for independent monitoring of their prisons.
- United States 🇺🇸: The Trump administration, which was in office during these events, faces criticism for sending migrants to a country with a record of human rights abuses. Critics say the United States 🇺🇸 is trying to avoid responsibility by sending migrants to third countries where they are at risk of torture.
- United Nations Experts: UN human rights officials have expressed deep concern about the legality of these deportations and the risk of torture. They have urged both the United States 🇺🇸 and El Salvador to stop these practices and allow independent groups to monitor the situation.
- Human Rights Organizations: Groups like the Center for Constitutional Rights and the National Immigration Project have called for an end to these deportations, accountability for those responsible, and reparations for the victims.
What Happened to the Migrants?
Migrants were deported from the United States 🇺🇸 under fast-track procedures, often without a chance to see a judge or present evidence. Many were accused of gang involvement without proof. Once in El Salvador, they were held at CECOT, a prison known for its harsh treatment of inmates. They were not allowed to contact their families, see a lawyer, or get visits from their consulates.
In July 2025, a prisoner swap took place. Venezuela 🇻🇪 agreed to release 10 Americans from its prisons in exchange for the return of over 250 Venezuelan migrants from El Salvador. After their return, Venezuelan officials began medical and psychological checks on the migrants and promised to investigate the abuses and seek justice for the victims.
Conditions at CECOT Prison
CECOT, or the Terrorism Confinement Center, has been widely criticized by human rights groups and the United Nations. Reports describe:
- Overcrowding: Cells packed far beyond their intended capacity.
- Lack of Basic Needs: Inmates often go without enough food, water, or medical care.
- No Legal Access: Detainees cannot see lawyers or contact their families.
- Physical and Sexual Abuse: Many reports of beatings, torture, and sexual assault by guards.
- Deaths in Custody: Some detainees have died due to abuse or lack of medical care.
These conditions have led to calls for independent monitoring and urgent reforms.
Legal and Policy Issues
The United States 🇺🇸 used the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify these deportations. This law allows the government to remove people from countries considered enemies during times of conflict. However, legal experts and human rights advocates say using this law in this way is wrong and may break international human rights rules. They point to the principle of non-refoulement, which means countries cannot send people to places where they are likely to face torture or other serious harm.
Secret deals like the one between the United States 🇺🇸 and El Salvador also raise concerns. Critics say these agreements allow countries to avoid responsibility for the treatment of migrants and make it harder for victims to get justice.
Multiple Perspectives
- Venezuelan migrants: Many say they were wrongly accused and treated like criminals without evidence. They describe being terrified, isolated, and abused while in El Salvador.
- Salvadoran officials: They claim the detainees were dangerous criminals, but independent investigations have found little proof to support these claims.
- US officials: The Trump administration has defended the deportations as necessary for national security, but critics say this is just an excuse to avoid dealing with migrants at the border.
- Human rights groups: They argue that the United States 🇺🇸 and El Salvador are both responsible for the suffering of these migrants and must be held accountable.
International and Diplomatic Impact
The situation has strained relations between Venezuela 🇻🇪, El Salvador, and the United States 🇺🇸. Venezuela 🇻🇪 is demanding answers and justice for its citizens. El Salvador faces growing criticism from the international community. The United States 🇺🇸 is under pressure to stop similar deportations and ensure that migrants are not sent to places where they could be tortured.
The United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights are being asked to step in and monitor the situation. Human rights organizations are pushing for independent investigations, reparations for victims, and an end to the use of third countries for detaining migrants.
What Happens Next?
The Venezuelan investigation is ongoing. There may be international legal action and more diplomatic fallout in the coming weeks. The United Nations and other groups are likely to increase their involvement, and there is growing pressure on the United States 🇺🇸 to change its policies.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Number of Venezuelans affected: About 250 deported, detained, and returned
- Location of detention: CECOT (Terrorism Confinement Center), El Salvador
- Nature of abuses: Torture, sexual assault, beatings, incommunicado detention, denial of legal and consular access
- US legal basis: Alien Enemies Act of 1798, expedited removal without due process
- Financial arrangement: $6 million paid by United States 🇺🇸 to El Salvador for detention
- Prisoner swap: 10 Americans released by Venezuela 🇻🇪 in exchange for 250+ Venezuelans returned from El Salvador
- Current investigations: Venezuelan Attorney General, UN Special Rapporteur, human rights organizations
- International response: Widespread condemnation, calls for accountability, demands for independent monitoring
Practical Guidance for Affected Communities
For Venezuelan migrants and their families, the most important steps are:
- Seek Medical and Legal Help: Venezuelan authorities are offering medical checks and legal support for returnees. Families should contact official government channels for assistance.
- Document Abuses: Victims and their families should keep records of injuries, medical reports, and any evidence of abuse. This can help with investigations and possible legal action.
- Contact Human Rights Groups: Organizations like the Center for Constitutional Rights and the National Immigration Project can provide support and help raise awareness of abuses.
- Stay Informed: Follow updates from trusted sources, including the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), for the latest information and guidance.
What Can Be Done to Prevent Future Abuses?
Experts and advocates suggest several steps to protect migrants and prevent similar abuses:
- End Secret Deportation Deals: Governments should not make secret agreements that put migrants at risk.
- Guarantee Due Process: Migrants must have a chance to see a judge, present evidence, and challenge accusations before being deported.
- Independent Monitoring: Prisons like CECOT should be open to visits from independent groups to check on conditions and prevent abuse.
- Respect International Law: Countries must follow rules that protect people from torture and other serious harm, including the principle of non-refoulement.
- Support Victims: Governments and organizations should provide medical, legal, and psychological help to those who have suffered abuse.
Broader Implications for Immigration Policy
This case highlights the dangers of outsourcing immigration enforcement to third countries. When countries like the United States 🇺🇸 send migrants to places with poor human rights records, they risk violating international law and causing serious harm to vulnerable people. The use of old laws like the Alien Enemies Act and secret deals makes it harder to hold anyone accountable.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, experts warn that these practices set a dangerous example for other countries and could lead to more cases of torture and abuse. They call for greater transparency, stronger protections for migrants, and international cooperation to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and humanely.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The torture and abuse of Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States 🇺🇸 to El Salvador is a serious human rights crisis. Ongoing investigations, diplomatic efforts, and international pressure may lead to changes in policy and better protection for migrants in the future. For now, the focus remains on supporting the victims, holding those responsible accountable, and making sure that such abuses do not happen again.
Families and advocates should continue to push for transparency, justice, and respect for human rights. By working together, governments, organizations, and communities can help protect migrants and prevent future suffering.
For more information and support, visit the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights or contact trusted human rights organizations.
Learn Today
Alien Enemies Act of 1798 → A US law allowing removal of foreigners considered enemies during conflicts, rarely used for deportations.
CECOT → Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador known for harsh prison conditions and human rights abuses.
Non-refoulement → International principle forbidding sending people to countries where they risk torture or serious harm.
Incommunicado detention → Holding detainees without communication access to family, lawyers, or consulates.
Prisoner swap → An exchange of detainees between countries, here between Venezuela and El Salvador, involving migrants.
This Article in a Nutshell
In 2025, over 250 Venezuelan migrants deported from the US to El Salvador faced torture, sexual abuse, and harsh detention. Secret deals and outdated laws enabled these actions. International investigations and diplomatic pressure demand justice and reforms to protect migrants’ rights and end such abusive practices.
— By VisaVerge.com
