Released Venezuelan Migrants Detail ‘Hellish’ Conditions in El Salvador’s CECOT Prison
Released Venezuelan Migrants Detail ‘Hellish’ Conditions in El Salvador’s CECOT Prison
Three Venezuelan men, recently released from El Salvador’s infamous Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison, have come forward to ABC News alleging severe physical and psychological abuse during their detention. Their testimonies shed light on the conditions inside the facility following their deportation from the United States in March 2025.
Mervin Jose Yamarte Fernandez, Francisco Garcia Casique, and Ysqueibel Penaloza were among over 250 Venezuelan migrants deported from the U.S. under the Trump administration’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act. They were accused of being members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, an accusation all three men vehemently deny.
The men, who were released last week in a prisoner swap and are now speaking from Venezuela, recounted harrowing experiences from the moment they arrived in El Salvador. Yamarte Fernandez described being immediately subjected to beatings, kicks, and forced shaving upon exiting the plane while still handcuffed and chained. “You’re going to see real hell,” a CECOT officer reportedly told him.
Allegations include forced nudity, beatings with sticks, denial of access to lawyers, and being crammed into severely overcrowded cells, with one man describing a cell holding approximately 80 individuals. Garcia Casique stated that officers threatened them, claiming they would never leave and that no one, not even the Pope or Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, could rescue them. Penaloza described the ordeal as “hit after hit. So much abuse, both physical and psychological.”
The men also reported a sudden change in conditions just days before their release, including medical checks, better food, and personal hygiene items, suggesting an attempt to improve appearances for potential visitors. They were finally released on July 18, expressing immense relief.
In response to the deportations, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the agency’s actions, stating the men were sent to CECOT because they “no longer pose a threat to the American people,” citing Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as “violent and ruthless terrorist gangs.” However, DHS did not comment on the specific allegations of abuse made by the released Venezuelans.
While Garcia Casique and Penaloza expressed no desire to return to the U.S. after their ordeal, Yamarte Fernandez indicated he would consider returning, but only if the Trump administration were not in power, highlighting his unfulfilled dreams and family responsibilities.
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