In a significant move within the realm of immigration enforcement, El Salvador’s mega-prison, known as the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), has become pivotal in U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. On March 16, 2025, hundreds of deported immigrants, allegedly linked to Venezuelan gang activities, were transferred to this controversial facility.

Background on the CECOT

Designed to accommodate 40,000 inmates, CECOT opened in March 2023 under President Nayib Bukele’s administration. The prison lacks programs for visitations, recreation, or education, focusing solely on confinement. Cells are overcrowded, housing 65 to 70 prisoners each, and conditions have drawn criticism from human rights organizations.

Details of the Deportation Agreement

The transfer of these immigrants is part of a $6 million agreement between the U.S. and El Salvador. Despite a concurrent federal court ruling aimed at halting such deportations, U.S. officials proceeded, citing a wartime declaration under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a legislative relic invoked rarely in U.S. history. The act affords the president the authority to take unprecedented measures against foreign nationals deemed threats.

Conditions at CECOT

Once at CECOT, inmates are stripped of their personal belongings, with documented reports noting that they are transported in shackles and subjected to strict control measures. Reports indicate they are made to kneel while being processed and wear a standardized prison uniform, raising significant human rights concerns amidst the ongoing enforcement of anti-gang policies.

Current Inmate Population Trends

The inmate population in El Salvador has soared to over 110,000, a drastic increase from 36,000 inmates just two years prior. Advocacy groups like Cristosal report instances of abuse and neglect within the prison system, including alarmingly high death rates linked to the harsh conditions imposed under Bukele’s crackdown on crime.

The Broader Implications of Trump’s Policies

The deportation of individuals connected to the Tren de Aragua gang—an organization notorious for its origins within a violent Venezuelan prison—complicates the immigration landscape. The Biden administration has not verified the deportees’ gang affiliations or their criminal history in the U.S., making the legal and ethical dimensions of such deportations particularly contentious.