It's true. 'Illegal immigrants' pay huge fees to smugglers and coyotes. It's pretty unlikely they sold their iPhones to be able to afford the cost.

 

Taken advantage of, raped, killed, deserted. But is it the fault of the migrants to want a better life? That's pretty hard-hearted.

 

The single, military-age men escaping to Europe escaped Russia only because they have money, same as Russian tourists here.

On 8/19/2025 at 6:09 AM, CharlieH said:

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/raw/p0lwyqd4.jpg?v=5

 

Trump deportees tell of abuse in secretive mega-jail

 

Arturo Suárez recounts the harrowing experience he faced upon arriving at El Salvador’s Cecot prison. Greeted with brutality, he claims guards beat him until he lost consciousness. When he awoke, he was met with a chilling message from the jail’s director, Belarmino García: "Welcome to hell. Welcome to the cemetery of living men."

 

Cecot, the Center for the Confinement of Terrorism, is notorious for housing El Salvador’s most dangerous offenders. Built to tackle the nation’s rampant gang violence under President Nayib Bukele’s administration, the realities inside have remained largely concealed since its 2023 opening.

 

Recently, the release of 251 Venezuelan inmates has shed light on the grim conditions within Cecot. Their testimonies, shared after their return to Venezuela, offer a glimpse into life behind its walls. Deported after a deal between the US and El Salvador, these individuals describe the brutal treatment they endured.

 

After arriving back home, eight of the former inmates spoke with BBC News Mundo. They described regular beatings, lack of legal representation, and deprivation of basic necessities. One individual recounted being sexually abused, while others mentioned sleeping on bare metal bunks and having to eat with their hands.

 

These men were initially residing in the United States, some legally, others undocumented. Accused of gang affiliations, they vehemently deny any criminal connections, believing their tattoos led to wrongful assumptions of ties to the Tren de Aragua, a violent gang originating in Venezuela.

 

Despite US assurances of careful vetting, questions remain about the evidence used against them. These men were shackled and flown to El Salvador without any knowledge of where they were being taken.

 

Upon arriving at Cecot, they were subjected to humiliating rituals. Forced to kneel and have their heads shaved, they donned prison-issued clothing. Mervin Yamarte, who once worked at a tortilla factory in Texas, described being beaten while naked, stating, "They wouldn't let me put on my clothes."

 

The BBC sought responses from the Salvadoran government regarding these allegations, but officials have yet to respond.

These accounts highlight significant human rights concerns and raise questions about the treatment of deportees and prison conditions in El Salvador. As stories of abuse and neglect emerge, the focus intensifies on how prisoners, particularly those deported from abroad, are treated within such facilities.

 

The exposed conditions at Cecot have brought renewed attention to President Bukele's controversial approach to crime and punishment. While intended to curtail violence, critics argue that such harsh measures violate human rights and fail to address the root causes of crime in El Salvador.

 

As these released inmates adjust to life in Venezuela, the impact of their time at Cecot remains with them. They hope sharing their experiences will bring about change and highlight the need for reform in how deportees and prisoners are treated.

 

Their stories cast a spotlight on the complexities and consequences of international deportation agreements, showing that the pursuit of security should not come at the cost of human rights. As global scrutiny increases, the calls for transparency and accountability in El Salvador's detention practices grow louder, urging reforms that ensure humane treatment and justice for all.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The BBC 2025-08-18

 

 

Reading the headline, I was ready to read another putdown of elderly alcoholic deluded western men in Pattaya.