Reports of Arbitrary Detention and Disappearance of Deported Salvadorans

Tue Mar 17 2026 04:35:53 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Human Rights Watch reveals alarming rates of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances of Salvadoran nationals deported from the U.S. to El Salvador's prison system.

An investigative report by Human Rights Watch has highlighted the plight of Salvadoran nationals deported from the U.S. who face arbitrary detention and disappearances within El Salvador’s prison system. With over 9,000 Salvadorans deported since early 2025, many find themselves trapped in a cycle of detention without access to legal assistance or communication with family members. The arbitrary detentions have been exacerbated by President Nayib Bukele's ongoing state of emergency that has resulted in mass incarcerations and serious human rights violations.

El Salvador has seen a sharp increase in arbitrary detentions and disappearances of deported Salvadorans, according to a recent report by Human Rights Watch.

The report notes that more than 9,000 Salvadoran nationals have been deported from the United States since the beginning of former President Donald Trump’s second term in March 2025. Many of these individuals have vanished into the country's notorious prison system, particularly those sent to the Centralized Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT), a large-scale mega prison.

Human Rights Watch has highlighted the dire conditions faced by deportees, who often lack basic rights and access to legal representation following their detention. Juanita Goebertus, the Americas director at Human Rights Watch, emphasized that “deportation cannot mean enforced disappearance.”

Details about those detained are scarce, with the organization interviewing at least 20 family members of those detained since their deportation. The families report a total lack of communication, with detainees often unable to reach their loved ones or legal counsel.

El Salvador's government has not responded to inquiries regarding these concerns. The widespread detentions are facilitated by a state of emergency declared in March 2022, which has allowed authorities to suspend essential constitutional rights, leading to thousands being held on minimal evidence and often without any formal charges.

Conditions in Salvadoran prisons have long drawn criticism for human rights abuses, including reports of mistreatment, beatings, and sexual abuse by guards. Families of detainees frequently experience emotional turmoil, unsure if they will ever reunite with their loved ones.

In one case documented in the report, a mother in Maryland has not heard from her son since just days before his deportation in March 2025, expressing her desperate wish for information about his well-being. “I want someone to tell me that my son is OK, that he’s alive,” she said.

As of now, the fate and whereabouts of many deported Salvadorans remain uncertain, prompting calls for actions to uphold human rights and due process amid the ongoing crisis.