A recent investigation by RFI and 24 other media outlets, coordinated by Forbidden Stories, has uncovered a secret agreement between the US and El Salvador that funneled deportees into El Salvador's prison system. The deal, made in early 2025, allowed the US to deport migrants to El Salvador, which would then hold them in a high-security prison. This arrangement was part of a larger effort by the US to deport migrants to countries other than their own.
The investigation found that between March and April 2025, 36 Salvadorans and 252 Venezuelans were flown from the US to El Salvador on military flights. The deportees were taken to Cecot, a maximum-security mega-prison built as part of El Salvador's crackdown on gangs. The prison's director reportedly told the deportees that they would only leave "dead". The US government described the deportees as "dangerous criminals", but rights groups have raised concerns about the lack of due process and access to lawyers.
Families of the deported Salvadorans have reported difficulty finding information about their loved ones. Glenda, whose brother Elmer was deported, told RFI that she has spent over a year searching for him and has been unable to get any information about his whereabouts. Karen, whose brother Kevin was also deported, said that prosecutors confirmed his arrival but refused to show her the document proving it due to confidentiality.
The UN has described the situation as an "enforced disappearance", which occurs when someone is detained with the involvement of the state, but the authorities then refuse to acknowledge it or provide information about the person's whereabouts. The US government's use of a wartime law, the Alien Enemies Act, to deport alleged gang members has been challenged by lawyers and human rights groups.
The secret agreement between the US and El Salvador was made public in September 2025, when a Trump administration document was revealed as part of a class-action lawsuit. The documents showed that Washington had agreed to pay El Salvador $4.76 million to hold Venezuelan and Salvadoran deportees at Cecot. The agreement also stipulated that El Salvador must not provide resources or legal assistance to asylum seekers.
El Salvador's President Bukele has ruled the country under a state of exception since 2022, which suspends some normal legal protections and gives the authorities sweeping powers to arrest and detain people. The US government's deportation campaign has been documented by The Deportation Project, which found that over 25,000 people have been deported from the US to countries other than their own since January 2025.
Human rights groups have raised concerns about the treatment of the deportees and the lack of transparency in the US government's deportation process. The situation highlights the challenges faced by migrants and the need for greater accountability and transparency in the treatment of deportees.
Key points
- The US government's secret deal with El Salvador has sparked concerns about human rights and due process.
- The deportees were taken to Cecot, a high-security prison in El Salvador, where they were held without access to lawyers or a legal process.
- The situation has been described as an "enforced disappearance" by the UN, highlighting the need for greater transparency and accountability.
