Allegations of Torture Uncovered in El Salvador’s CECOT Prison

Maryland resident Kilmar Ábrego García reports severe abuse and torture during his wrongful deportation to El Salvador, drawing attention to the brutal conditions in the country’s CECOT prison. Despite initial allegations of gang affiliation, his legal team challenges these claims while he awaits trial in Tennessee.

Kilmar Ábrego García's allegations of severe abuse during his detention in El Salvador's infamous Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT) have raised significant concerns regarding human rights violations in the country's prison system. The 29-year-old Maryland man, who was mistakenly deported and subsequently detained in June 2025, claims to have suffered "severe beatings" and "torture" shortly after his arrival, as detailed in new court documents from a lawsuit initiated by his wife against the Trump administration.

His legal representatives have asserted that within a day of his incarceration, Ábrego García exhibited visible injuries due to assaults from prison guards. Prior to his deportation, the Trump administration had labeled him an alleged member of the Salvadoran gang MS-13, allegations which he and his family have vehemently contested. In a significant turnaround, he was extradited back to the U.S. in June to face human trafficking charges, to which he has entered a plea of not guilty.

The lawsuit reveals that upon arrival at CECOT, Ábrego García and 20 other deportees were reportedly subjected to repeated assaults and confined in overcrowded cells characterized by harsh conditions—metal bunks without mattresses, constant bright lights, and limited access to sanitation. Furthermore, the suit alleges that these individuals were forced to kneel for hours overnight, with guards resorting to physical violence against those who succumbed to exhaustion.

The accusations against the prison environment contradict statements made by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, who has previously claimed that prisons are well-maintained, free from abuse and unsanitary conditions. He has also voiced support for the Trump administration's deportation policy.

The Trump administration has sought to have the lawsuit dismissed, contending that developments following Ábrego García's return to the U.S. have overruled the relevance of the initial claims. His legal battle is compounded by his complicated immigration history; having entered the U.S. illegally in 2011, he received deportation protection in 2019 due to potential threats from gangs should he return to El Salvador. His unlawful deportation was later recognized as an oversight by officials.

A federal judge in Tennessee recently categorized him as eligible for release, yet concerns over a potential rapid deportation upon leaving facilities have led to his continued detention. As the case progresses, federal authorities and activists alike remain watchful of its implications for deportation policies and human rights in both nations.