Venezuela Demands Investigation into Allegations of Torture in El Salvador Prison

Over 250 Venezuelan migrants returned home after allegedly facing severe human rights violations while imprisoned in El Salvador. The Venezuelan government has called for an investigation into these claims, detailing reports of torture and abuse from the notorious CECOT prison.

More than 250 Venezuelan migrants who were deported from the United States have returned to Venezuela after spending four months in El Salvador's infamous Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT. Venezuelan officials, led by Attorney General Tarek William Saab, have launched an investigation into allegations of human rights abuses directed at these detainees, claiming they suffered from "systemic torture" that included sexual abuse, physical beatings, and malnutrition from spoiled prison food.

The Venezuelan government has asserted that the treatment of these migrants merits global attention, and Saab has called on international organizations, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations Human Rights Council, to take action. The evidence presented includes testimonies and images depicting detainees with visible injuries, including bruises and lost teeth. The authenticity of these claims, however, has not been independently verified.

The recent deportation occurred under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which allows the U.S. president to deport individuals from designated "enemy" nations without standard legal processes. Many of the deportees were accused of gang affiliation, a claim denied by their families and legal representatives. Throughout their detention in El Salvador, the migrants were cut off from legal assistance and family contact, with their public treatment described as degrading and dehumanizing.

In a controversial exchange, the detainees were released in mid-July following negotiations involving U.S. nationals held in Venezuela, with a senior Trump administration official commending El Salvador President Nayib Bukele for facilitating this deal. The situation has drawn attention, particularly as the U.S. has imposed strict sanctions on Venezuela, complicating relief efforts and legal statuses for many Venezuelan nationals.

Venezuela itself is currently under investigation by the ICC regarding similar allegations of prisoner abuse, framing the ongoing crisis amid a backdrop of mutual accusations and diplomatic tension.