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Venezuelan Deportees in El Salvador Prison: Mother’s Despair Amid Gang Accusations
The anguish of Gertrudis Pineda underscores the plight of families grappling with uncertainty after the United States deported 238 Venezuelans to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. Lacking concrete details about her son Oscar, who is among those incarcerated in the “Terrorism Confinement Centre” (Cecot), Ms. Pineda’s distress highlights the human cost of the controversial deportations and gang allegations. This development raises serious concerns about due process and human rights for the Venezuelan nationals held in El Salvador.
A Mother’s Plea for Her Son
Gertrudis Pineda’s voice cracks with emotion as she discusses her son, Oscar. “My son only sought the American Dream, and now he is trapped in a nightmare,” she laments, her sorrow palpable. Oscar, who resided in Dallas, Texas, earned a living laying carpets in apartments. “He supported me, sending money for the family and for his father’s diabetes medication,” she explained.
Distant Borders, Impenetrable Walls
Speaking from the sweltering heat of Zulia state in western Venezuela, Gertrudis is geographically separated from Oscar by 1,800 kilometers. Six borders and the imposing walls of Cecot, El Salvador’s notorious maximum-security facility intended for dangerous gang members, further isolate mother and son. The U.S. government alleges that the Venezuelan detainees at Cecot are affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang.
The previous administration in the U.S. utilized the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to remove these individuals from U.S. territory, bypassing standard legal procedures. This action placed the U.S. Justice Department at odds with a federal judge who had instructed the planes carrying the migrants to return.
Gertrudis was aware of her son’s apprehension by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), believing he was in Texas and likely to be sent back to Venezuela. The revelation that he was incarcerated in a Salvadoran prison came when her other son, residing in Colombia, recognized Oscar’s name on a televised list.
Shortly after, footage emerged showing the 238 Venezuelans undergoing head-shaving as part of the processing procedure at Cecot. Gertrudis identified Oscar by a rose tattoo on his forearm.
Allegations of Injustice and Human Rights Concerns
“There are so many innocent boys in there,” Gertrudis asserts. “They did nothing wrong, yet they are treated like animals. Where are their human rights?” she pleads, expressing deep concern for the detainees’ welfare and the lack of due process. The White House maintains that those deported to Cecot were thoroughly vetted and are dangerous gang members, despite acknowledging in court documents that many lack U.S. criminal records.
While El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele and his supporters champion Cecot as a solution to the region’s gang problem, human rights activists have long criticized the facility, labeling it a “black hole of human rights.” Gertrudis is experiencing this information vacuum firsthand, unable to obtain updates on her son’s condition since seeing the video.
She is uncertain if Oscar is subjected to the same conditions as Salvadoran prisoners, who President Bukele stated are deprived of “even a ray of sunlight” within the controversial prison’s windowless cells and corridors.
Growing Criticism and Legal Challenges
Opposition to the deportation of Venezuelans to the supermax prison is intensifying in the U.S., Venezuela, and within El Salvador itself. Napoleon Campos, a Salvadoran immigration expert, deems the action unconstitutional. He argues that El Salvador’s Supreme Court should intervene, stating, “It should declare that bringing these people to El Salvador without them having committed any crime in this country exceeds our constitutional limits.”
Mr. Campos contends that mounting “anecdotal evidence” suggests a considerable number of the 238 deportees lack criminal records in Venezuela, the United States, or El Salvador. He extends the “black hole of rights” concept beyond Cecot’s walls, applying it to the broader state of affairs in El Salvador.
“El Salvador today is a deep black hole of illegalities, of violations of fundamental freedoms and liberties enshrined under our constitution and the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights,” Mr. Campos insists, emphasizing the severity of the rights situation.
Legal Efforts for Release
Jaime Ortega, a lawyer hired by the Venezuelan vice-president, has undertaken the task of navigating El Salvador’s legal system to secure the Venezuelans’ release. “This case is very sad and unprecedented in our country,” he stated. “We’ve only seen this in times of slavery, when people were moved between place and place for money. It’s unheard of.”
Despite the challenges, Mr. Ortega remains optimistic about securing their release, citing the ambiguity surrounding the agreement between El Salvador and the U.S. that facilitated the deportations. He explained that the absence of a “safe third country” declaration complicates the legal framework. Mr. Ortega proposes that, at minimum, the men should be transferred to an immigration center pending their eventual repatriation to Venezuela, rather than remaining in a supermax prison designed for hardened gang members.
Bukele’s Stance and the “State of Exception”
President Nayib Bukele has consistently dismissed criticism directed at Cecot and his broader crackdown on gangs in El Salvador. He emphasizes the transformative effects of his measures on Salvadoran society. It marks three years since he initiated the “state of exception,” suspending certain constitutional rights. Initially enacted for one month, this measure has been extended 35 times by the Salvadoran congress, with no immediate end in sight.
The crackdown continues to enjoy widespread support among Salvadorans, who overwhelmingly re-elected President Bukele in the previous year’s elections.
A Neighborhood Transformed
The impact of Bukele’s policies is visible in San Salvador neighborhoods like 10 de Octubre. Formerly dominated by the MS-13 gang and a stronghold of notorious criminal Elmer Canales Rivera, access to this area was previously restricted and perilous. Extortion, violence, and intimidation were rampant, creating constant fear among residents.
Today, the stark contrast is evident. The once-dangerous neighborhood now exudes tranquility. Bright pink and green paint covers gang graffiti, and soldiers armed with automatic weapons are stationed as part of Bukele’s security strategy.
“We opened this store after the state of exception,” says Roxana, a local shopkeeper. “Things have drastically changed. We feel safer having a business, and we can remain open later.” She also notes the cessation of extortion demands from gang members.
Lingering Silence and Unresolved Issues
Despite the apparent improvements, a culture of silence persists in former gang territories. Residents offer limited information about life under gang rule, and Roxana declined to provide her last name or be photographed. “Many innocent people were also caught up in President Bukele’s crackdown. We know of several local cases. Some individuals who shouldn’t be imprisoned remain incarcerated. It is unjust,” she stated, highlighting the potential for miscarriages of justice under the sweeping measures.
While thousands have been held at Cecot for years, many without trials, Oscar has been there only for 13 days – a period that feels like a decade to his distraught mother. Gertrudis cares for his eight-year-old son in Venezuela while Oscar is detained in El Salvador. She empathizes with Salvadoran mothers whose sons are also held at Cecot without gang affiliations, a reality she was unaware of before her own son’s detention under accusations of ties to the Tren de Aragua gang.
“My son is Venezuelan, not Salvadoran. What this president has done is kidnap our children,” Gertrudis sobbed. “If they have committed crimes, they should be held accountable in Venezuela. They must send them home.” Her plea underscores the desperate situation of families caught in the crossfire of international policies and gang crackdowns.