Human Rights Watch Documents Systematic Torture of U.S.-Deported Venezuelans at El Salvador's CECOT Prison

Human Rights Watch and Cristosal released an 81-page report on Nov. 12, 2025 documenting systematic torture of 252 Venezuelans deported by the U.S. to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison between March and April 2025. Guards beat detainees for minor rule violations, including requesting medical care. The U.S. provided at least $4.7 million to El Salvador for detention costs. HRW called the U.S. "complicit in torture."