Venezuelan authorities announce an investigation into alleged torture and mistreatment of over 250 migrants deported from the U.S. and held at El Salvador's CECOT prison, sparking international scrutiny and calls for accountability.
Venezuela Launches Probe Into Alleged Torture of Migrants in El Salvador
Venezuela Launches Probe Into Alleged Torture of Migrants in El Salvador
Investigations are initiated after over 250 Venezuelan migrants return home, claiming human rights abuses during detention in an El Salvador prison.
Venezuela has commenced an investigation into the alleged human rights abuses faced by over 250 migrants who were recently returned from El Salvador, where they reportedly endured severe mistreatment during their four-month detention at the infamous Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). The migrants, deported from the United States, arrived back in Venezuela, near Caracas, on Friday.
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab has made serious allegations, stating that detainees suffered from "systemic torture," which included sexual abuse, daily beatings, and inadequate prison food. The government of El Salvador has yet to respond to these serious assertions. Saab presented distressing testimonies and images allegedly depicting the injuries of detainees, including bruises and missing teeth, although these claims are yet to be independently verified.
As part of the inquiry, Venezuela has targeted El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, Justice Minister Gustavo Villatoro, and Head of Prisons Osiris Luna Meza for accountability. Saab has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC), the UN Human Rights Council, and other relevant regional bodies to conduct their investigations in parallel. Ironically, Venezuela is currently under scrutiny by the ICC for similar allegations related to the torture of prisoners and denial of legal rights.
The detained Venezuelans had been accused of gang affiliation, a claim that many relatives and legal representatives vigorously contest. They were held in CECOT, a facility designed for accused gang members, where they allegedly faced restricted access to legal counsel and family members. Disturbing images released by Bukele's administration, showing the migrants arriving in handcuffs with shaved heads, have drawn significant international attention and outrage.
The migrants were ultimately released in mid-July as part of a prisoner swap that included U.S. nationals held in Venezuela, with a senior official from the Trump administration expressing deep gratitude to Bukele for facilitating the exchange. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to impose strict sanctions on Venezuela, and a recent Supreme Court ruling may impact the Temporary Protected Status, putting approximately 350,000 Venezuelans at risk.
