CECOT

The Terrorism Confinement Center ( [], ) is a maximum security prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador. The prison was built in late 2022 amid a Salvadoran gang crackdown, large-scale gang crackdown in the country. The Salvadoran government opened the prison in late January 2023, and it began housing inmates the following month.

, CECOT had a confirmed population of 14,532inmates; in November 2024, prison director Belarmino García estimated that CECOT held between 15,000 and 20,000 inmates. With a capacity for 40,000inmates, CECOT is the largest prison in Latin America and one of the largest in the world by prisoner capacity. In March 2025, the Salvadoran government accepted over 200deportees that the second Donald Trump administration alleged were Venezuelan and Salvadoran gang members and incarcerated them in CECOT. Among them was Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose case received widespread media attention in the United States.

CECOT is controversial, receiving praise for its detention of alleged gang members and criticism for alleged human rights abuses, including overcrowding, lack of due process, and inhumane conditions. CECOT does not engage in rehabilitation. Only Abrego Garcia is confirmed to have been released from the facility and authorities have stated in media statements that there are no plans to release any other prisoners. Additionally, the imprisonment of deportees from the US is a controversial issue on its own.

The Salvadoran government has allowed selected media outlets access to participate in guided tours of the prison, while others such as United States senator Chris Van Hollen have been denied access. CECOT has been featured in several videos published on social media, including by Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele.

Background

Gang violence in El Salvador

Beginning in the 1990s, street gangs began to gain power and influence in El Salvador when their members began to be deported from the United States following the conclusion of the Salvadoran Civil War. The two largest street gangs were Mara Salvatrucha (commonly known as MS-13) and the 18th Street gang ( 18); other smaller gangs included , , and . In El Salvador, these gangs recruited young Salvadorans who felt neglected by the Salvadoran government in the aftermath of the civil war. By 2020, there were an estimated 60,000gang members and 400,000collaborators in El Salvador.

Gangs enforced their influence and made money through murder, extortion, drug trafficking, and operating businesses. Gangs also influenced national politics by preventing political candidates from campaigning in certain neighborhoods under their control, and gang leaders have stated that they could determine the outcomes of elections. Due to gang violence, El Salvador had one of the highest homicide rates in the world, peaking at a rate of 103 homicides per 100,000people in 2015.

Anti-crime policies

During the 1990s and 2000s, the various Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) governments sought to implement "tough on crime" policies in El Salvador to combat the spread of gangs. In 2003 and 2004, the government implemented the ("iron fist") and ("super iron fist") policies that led to the arrests of 30,000alleged gang members. In 2012, the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) government, the Catholic Church in El Salvador, and the country's gangs agreed to a truce that initially lowered the country's homicide rate, but by 2014, the truce had faltered and homicides rose again. In 2015, the Supreme Court of Justice of El Salvador designated both MS-13 and 18 as terrorist organizations.

From 2019 to 2020, El Salvador's homicide rate decreased by up to 62percent. Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele credited the decrease to his Territorial Control Plan, but a 2020 analysis by the International Crisis Group (ICG) found "no causal relationship" between the decrease in homicides and the Territorial Control Plan. Instead, the ICG attributed the decrease to "quiet, informal understandings between gangs and the government"; the Salvadoran government denied the claim. In December 2021, the United States Department of the Treasury accused Bukele's government of negotiating with the gangs to reduce homicides; Bukele denied the accusation.

Salvadoran gang crackdown

From 25 to 27 March 2022, gangs in El Salvador killed 87people, 62 of whom were killed on 26 March alone, the deadliest day in Salvadoran history since the end of the civil war in 1992. Florida International University research director José Miguel Cruz attributed the murder spike to the breakdown of the alleged truce between gangs and the government.

In response to the violence, the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador declared a state of exception that suspended several constitutional rights and made it easier for the country's security forces to conduct mass arrests of suspected gang members. In the following seven months, around 55,000suspected gang members were arrested. Due to the large number of arrests, Bukele announced the construction of a new prison with a capacity for 40,000inmates—named the Terrorism Confinement Center (abbreviated CECOT)—to house those arrested during the gang crackdown. CECOT was built by three companies (OMNI, DISA, and ) and construction cost US$100million. By the time CECOT opened in January 2023, the Salvadoran government had arrested over 62,000suspected gang members.

Prison facility

The Terrorism Confinement Center facility covers and the Salvadoran government oversees the surrounding around the prison. It is located in the district of Tecoluca in a remote area of the San Vicente Department at the base of the San Vicente volcano. CECOT has the capacity for 40,000inmates in eight cell blocks; cell space covers for an average of of space per prisoner. In April 2025, Bukele stated that he intended to double CECOT's capacity to 80,000 inmates. The prison is surrounded by 19guard towers, two sets of and walls, topped with barbed wire, two sets of electrified fences, and gravel flooring designed to make footsteps audible.

Each of the 256cells can house an average of 156inmates. The cells are equipped with four-level metal bunks with no mattresses or sheets, two toilets, and two washbasins. The cells are lit by artificial lights 24 hours per day. Each cell is provided with two Bibles, and CCTV cameras and armed guards monitor each cell. Solitary confinement cells can hold prisoners for up to 15days and are only furnished with a concrete bed, a toilet, and a washbasin. The solitary cells are pitch black except for one small hole in the ceiling that allows some light inside.

CECOT is staffed by 600soldiers and 250police officers. Belarmino García is the prison's director. Prison staff are provided recreational areas such as a dining hall, break room, and gym. Everyone entering the prison undergoes a physical search and an X-ray scan. Medical staff are present on site and administer all aid to prisoners within the prison's confines.

Inmates

The Salvadoran government rarely announces how many prisoners are incarcerated at CECOT, with only a few such public announcements since the prison opened. CECOT had a reported population of 14,532inmates in June 2024. In November 2024, García estimated that between 10,000 and 20,000inmates were housed at CECOT. In March 2025, a government spokesperson declined to provide an updated figure, citing security concerns, but said that the 2024 statistic of 14,500 inmates was outdated. In April 2025, García stated the population was closer to its 40,000 maximum population, but declined to give a specific number.

The criteria for becoming incarcerated in CECOT are unclear, other than that the Salvadoran government states that it houses "high-ranking" gang members. Members of rival gangs are not separated. García has described those imprisoned at CECOT as "the worst of the worst". Many inmates have been sentenced to centuries-long sentences, while other inmates have yet to be convicted. Those detained are reported to have been tried en masse with no opportunity to present counter evidence or see the evidence against them.

Prisoners wear all-white uniforms and their heads are shaved every five days. Prisoners are only allowed outside their cells for 30minutes of exercise, Bible study, online court hearings within the prison, or for placement into solitary confinement. Prisoners are not allowed education, recreation, visitation, or phone calls. Prisoners are provided meals of rice, beans, eggs, and pasta, but utensils are not provided as they could potentially become weapons. The Salvadoran government does not plan to release any prisoner from CECOT, and Minister of Justice and Public Security Gustavo Villatoro has stated that prisoners incarcerated at CECOT will never return to their communities. Villatoro also ruled out rehabilitation programs for CECOT's inmates.

Detention of foreign prisoners

On 3 February 2025, Bukele met with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and offered to accept "dangerous American onvictedcriminals" and incarcerate them at CECOT "in exchange for a fee". Rubio described Bukele's offer as the "most unprecedented and extraordinary migratory agreement anywhere in the world".

On 15 March 2025, the United States announced that it would deport 300alleged gang members of to El Salvador to be imprisoned in CECOT without trial, using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. According to El Salvador's , the Donald Trump administration will pay the Salvadoran government US$6million to hold the 300prisoners for one year "pending the United States' decision on their long term disposition". James Boasberg, the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, blocked the deportations from proceeding, but 238 alleged members and 23 alleged MS-13 members were deported regardless. One of the three deportation flights departed the United States after Boasberg blocked the deportations, causing controversy over whether the Trump administration ignored a court order. According to ''Time'', prisoners were physically bludgeoned and had their heads forcibly shaved during their processing. A ''60 Minutes'' investigation failed to find any criminal charges against 179 of those deported, while about a dozen had been charged with crimes such as murder, rape, assault, or kidnapping.

Bukele published a three-minute video to X (formerly Twitter) showing the prisoners' arrival. The Venezuelan government condemned the deportation, and Jorge Rodríguez, the president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, stated that the government would "not rest ..until they rescue the kidnapped enezuelansin El Salvador" (""). An anonymous source within the United States Department of State said that it feared the deported Venezuelans could die in CECOT. On 21 March 2025, Trump suggested that individuals who vandalize Tesla property should be imprisoned in El Salvador. On 25 March, a lawsuit was filed with the Supreme Court of Justice of El Salvador regarding the legality of incarcerating the deported Venezuelans.

United States secretary of homeland security Kristi Noem visited CECOT on 26 March 2025 and threatened illegal immigrants in the United States with deportation to El Salvador and incarceration in CECOT if they did not leave the country. The U.S. deported 17 more people to El Salvador on 31 March, alleging that they were MS-13 and members without evidence. The U.S. government stated that the deportations occurred using regular immigration laws and not the Alien Enemies Act. Kerry Kennedy, who was providing legal representation to 10 of the men deported by the Trump administration, was denied access to CECOT by Salvadoran police.

On 7 April, the Supreme Court of the United States lifted Boasberg's order, allowing the Trump administration to use the Alien Enemies Act to deport people from the country but only after they had been given a court hearing on the matter. In a meeting between Trump and Bukele at the Oval Office on 14 April, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump was interested in deporting "heinous, violent criminals" who were American citizens to El Salvador; Cato Institute immigration expert David Bier stated that "U.S. citizens may not be deported to imprisonment abroad. There is no authority for that in any U.S. law." Trump further suggested to Bukele that he should "build about five more places" like CECOT.

Among the prisoners deported to El Salvador was Salvadoran citizen Kilmar Abrego Garcia who was initially incarcerated at CECOT, and his case received widespread media attention in the United States as he had been deported due to an "administrative error". In April 2025, U.S. senator Chris Van Hollen met Abrego Garcia who informed him that he had been transferred to another prison in Santa Ana. Garcia told Van Hollen that he "experienced trauma" while in CECOT. After the meeting, Bukele wrote on X that Abrego Garcia would remain in Salvadoran custody.

On 20 April 2025, Bukele offered to conduct a prisoner exchange with the Venezuelan government, offering to repatriate the 252 Venezuelans sent to CECOT in exchange for the Venezuelan government releasing 252 "political prisoners". Venezuelan attorney general Tarek William Saab demanded "proof of life and a medical report" of each Venezuelan.

The governments of Ecuador and Peru have considered making agreements with the Salvadoran government to send some prisoners to CECOT.

Media coverage

Salvadoran government

On 1 February 2023, Bukele posted a video to Twitter of him, General Director of Penal Centers Osiris Luna Meza, Director of the National Civil Police Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, Minister of National Defense René Merino Monroy, and Minister of Public Works Romeo Rodríguez touring CECOT before its opening. Later that month, he posted another video showing 2,000prisoners, all with shaved heads and wearing only white gym shorts, being transferred into the prison. Bukele published similar videos for prisoner transfers in March 2023, June 2024, and March 2025.

Bukele himself has labeled CECOT as "the most criticized prison in the world" (""). Villatoro has remarked that CECOT represents "the biggest monument to justice we have ever built".

International press

Several foreign news outlets chronicled CECOT's first prison transfer including the BBC, ''The New York Times'', and ''The Washington Post''. Several online commentators also reported on the transfer.

The Associated Press' Marcos Alemán described CECOT as the " crown jewel" of the Salvadoran gang crackdown. DW Español's María Santacecilia described CECOT as the "emblem of Bukele's iron fist" (""). ''El País'' Juan Diego Quesada referred to CECOT as "the Alcatraz of Central America". CECOT has also been referred to as a "mega-prison". Reuters described CECOT as "controversial" and as being "known for its harsh conditions."

CNN's Michael Rios noted that inmates were "visibly disturbed" as an officer shouted at them to "submit from this moment on". The Associated Press wrote that Bukele made "stark, harsh prisons a trademark of his fight against crime". Journalists Christopher Mathias and Adam Serwer, writing for MSNBC and ''The Atlantic'' respectively, referred to CECOT as a "gulag". Colombian president Gustavo Petro has similarly labeled CECOT as a "concentration camp" ("").

The Salvadoran government has offered news outlets access to tour CECOT. In September 2023, Colombian news outlet ''Noticias Caracol'' became the first news outlet allowed to enter CECOT. Since then, other news outlets have been granted access to CECOT such as the BBC and CNN. YouTubers have also been granted access to CECOT. García has stated that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are not allowed inside CECOT. In July 2024, United States House representative Matt Gaetz visited CECOT and referred to it as "the solution" for El Salvador.

Allegations of human rights abuses

Critics of CECOT have referred to it as a "black hole of human rights". The BBC has indicated that CECOT does not adhere to the Red Cross' international standard that recommends that each prisoner receives at least of space in a cell; CECOT on average gives prisoners of space. Martin Horn, a former administrator of the Rikers Island prison in the United States, stated that 40,000prisoners is "too many to manage in one place ..under any circumstances", referring to the prison's listed capacity. There are not enough bunks for every prisoner assigned to each cell; when the BBC asked García what the maximum capacity of each cell was, he replied that "where you can fit 10people, you can fit 20". Emerson College political scientist Mneesha Gellman said that people held in CECOT face "severe overcrowding" and "inadequate food".

The BBC has also indicated that prisoners are deprived of rights such as outside recreation and family visitation outlined by international guidelines. Juan Carlos Sánchez, a program officer of the Due Process of Law Foundation, raised concerns about the quality of food served at CECOT. He also questioned the status of due process as the prison incarcerated both convicted criminals and individuals on trial for their alleged crimes. He warns that prisoners could become "sick physically, mentally" and "come out with rage". Antonio Durán, a senior judge in Zacatecoluca, said that the conditions in CECOT amount to "torture". Zaira Navas, a legal advisor at the Cristosal NGO, states that it is difficult to monitor conditions inside CECOT and that conditions "might become inhumane and degrading because no-one has access to that prison". Doug Specht, a human rights scholar at the University of Westminster, wrote in '' The SAIS Review of International Affairs'' that conditions in CECOT "fall significantly short of accepted norms for the humane treatment of prisoners".

Amnesty International raised concerns that CECOT "could threaten human rights" ("") and that the prison represented "politics of mass incarceration" (""). Amnesty International further remarked that CECOT has "worsened the human rights situation in El Salvador" and set "an alarming precedent of repressive cooperation between governments" resulting in enforced disappearance, referring to the U.S. deportations of 261 Salvadorans and Venezuelans. Miguel Sarre, a former member of the United Nations Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture, described CECOT as a "concrete and steel pit" used to "dispose of people without formally applying the death penalty", citing that the government has not confirmed that inmates have been released from CECOT. Kavan Applegate, the chairman of the International Corrections and Prisons Association's design committee, remarked that CECOT is "warehousing" people. Gustavo Fondevila, a professor of law at the Center for Economic Research and Teaching, described CECOT as a "political campaign project, the typical campaign project of pure, hard penal populism".

In response to criticism of alleged human rights abuses, García told CNN that "much has been said about CECOT and human rights violations, but you are seeing everything we do—medical assistance, ensuring they follow due process ..the whole operation is based on strict respect for human rights". On 12 September 2023, the Supreme Court of Justice and the Legislative Assembly approved a provision that allowed courts in Usulután and Cojutepeque—known as surveillance courts—to monitor the rights of individuals imprisoned in CECOT.

In April 2025, some users on Reddit and X have promoted a theory that a "mystery mound" located within CECOT's premises on Google Earth and Google Maps satellite imagery is "a pile of bodies and a stream of blood". Following the theories, images of CECOT became unsearchable on Google Earth and Google Maps. According to Google, the "listing was incorrectly removed due to an edit from a Maps user" and would be reinstated. The mound was absent from imagery days later. BBC journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh said that what was depicted in the image could not be easily identified and that it could simply be something such as mud of construction materials.

Influence on other prisons

On 1 June 2023, Bukele announced that he would build a prison similar to CECOT for white-collar criminals as a part of a " war against corruption". Bukele stated that the prison would be known as the Corruption Confinement Center (CECOC) () and that it would also be located in the San Vicente Department.

Politicians across Latin America in countries such as Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador, and Peru have implemented or have called for security policies similar to those Bukele has implemented. Before the 2023 Guatemalan presidential election, National Unity of Hope candidate Sandra Torres stated that she would build two mega-prisons to "end the scourge of homicides, murders and extortions in our country", while Valor candidate Zury Ríos promised to set up at least three new prisons, stating that she "admire the public security policies ukelehas done".

In January 2024, Ecuadorian president Daniel Noboa announced that he would build two prisons with a capacity for 12,000inmates each and that they would be modeled on CECOT. In June 2024, Honduran president Xiomara Castro announced that she would build a prison capable of holding 20,000inmates modeled on CECOT. In April 2025, Costa Rican minister of justice and peace Gerald Campos Valverde toured CECOT and told journalists that Costa Rica would "take all the good practices and see how we can bring them to a good conclusion in our legal system".

See also

* Crime in El Salvador

Notes

References

Further reading

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External links

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{{Authority control
2020s controversies
2023 establishments in El Salvador
Detention centers for extrajudicial prisoners of the United States
El Salvador–United States relations
Human rights abuses in El Salvador
Infrastructure completed in 2023
Nayib Bukele
Prisons completed in the 2020s
Prisons in El Salvador
Supermax prisons