3 days Ago By Aditi Saraswat
El Salvador’s CECOT is one of the largest prisons in Latin America. Opened in 2023 as part of President Nayib Bukele’s harsh anti-gang crackdown, the facility can hold up to 40,000 inmates. New Delhi: El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT) — one of the largest prisons in Latin America — has come under global scrutiny after the U.
S. began deporting hundreds of mostly Venezuelan migrants to be detained there. Opened in 2023 as part of President Nayib Bukele’s harsh anti-gang crackdown, the facility can hold up to 40,000 inmates.
Human rights groups have raised alarms over overcrowding, lack of due process, and alleged abuse. The prison, now housing alleged gang members deported under the Alien Enemies Act, reflects a new era of international cooperation — and controversy. What is CECOT? The mega-prison against El Salvador’s gangs was built in March 2022.
It came into service a year later in the town of Tecoluca, about 72 kilometres east of the capital. The place has eight sprawling pavilions and can hold up to 40,000 prisoners. Each cell can fit 65 to 70 prisoners.
CECOT prisoners cannot have visitors and are never allowed to go outdoors. The prison does not offer workshops or educational programs to train them to return to society after their sentences. Occasionally, prisoners who have gained a level of trust from prison officials give motivational talks.
Prisoners sit in rows in the corridor outside their cells for the talks or are led through exercise regimens under the supervision of guards. How many prisoners does El Salvador keep? The government does not regularly update the figure about the number of prisoners it has, but the human rights organisation reported that in March 2024 that El Salvador had 110,000 people in prison, including those sentenced to jail and those still awaiting trial. That’s more than double the 36,000 prisoners that the government reported in April 2021.
Click for more latest World news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Aditi Saraswat is a Sub-Editor at TV9 Digital, contributing to a wide range of topics in the lifestyle section.
A graduate of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal, she brings a strong foundation in journalism to her role. With experience in writing education stories and exclusive features, Aditi focuses on delivering accurate, engaging, and reader-friendly content across diverse subjects..
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