Venezuela has initiated an investigation into disturbing allegations of human rights abuses following the return of over 250 migrants from El Salvador. These individuals were held in the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CEACOT) after being deported from the United States. Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab accused El Salvador of engaging in "systemic torture," citing instances of sexual abuse, regular beatings, and substandard food within the prison.
The detainees were repatriated to a location near Caracas on Friday after spending four months in harsh conditions. Saab presented harrowing testimonies and photographs purporting to show injuries on the bodies of the returned migrants, including severe bruising and missing teeth. These claims are yet to be independently substantiated.
As calls for accountability grow, Venezuela is set to scrutinize El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, Justice Minister Gustavo Villatoro, and the Head of Prisons Osiris Luna Meza. Saab has also appealed to international bodies, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the UN Human Rights Council, to undertake their own investigations into these allegations.
The detained Venezuelans were deported under the controversial 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which allows for the deportation of nationals from "enemy" states without normal legal protocols. Many detainees reportedly had no access to legal counsel or family, and were last seen in photos released by the Salvadoran government, which depicted them arriving in handcuffs and with shaved heads, igniting widespread condemnation.
The group was released in mid-July as part of a hostage exchange, supported by the Trump administration, for American citizens detained in Venezuela. This incident occurs against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela, with sanctions imposed on the latter and implications for nearly 350,000 Venezuelan nationals whose Temporary Protected Status hangs in the balance.
