CECOT: El Salvador’s Notorious Prison

Kristi Noem’s Instagram Post from Cecot

Fact-Checking Kristi Noem: Few of those sent to CECOT actually had criminal records. Many of them entered the U.S. legally, or had filed legal claims for asylum that were in process. Most were not members of the Tren de Agua gang.

The human rights group Cristosal “conducted background checks on 160 of the 252 Venezuelans sent to El Salvador and also interviewed their families. The organization said that less than 10% had criminal records.”

Immigrants recently released from CECOT describe their treatment: 'Hell on Earth': Venezuelans deported to El Salvador mega-prison tell of brutal abuse’ (from KALW Public Media)

60 minutes prepared this well-researched segment about CECOT in December, 2025. It was pulled at the last minute before it was due to air (possibly for political reasons?). The segment was inadvertently released to Canada, where “bootleg” downloaded copies eventually made their way to the public square.