Tag

#El Salvador

Incidents involving El Salvador, particularly the use of Salvadoran prisons for U.S. deportees, cooperation on immigration enforcement, and human rights conditions in Salvadoran detention facilities.

7 incidents

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Judge Holds DHS in Contempt Twice for Deporting Protected Young Asylum Seekers, Including One Teen Deported to El Salvador Twice

A Trump-appointed federal judge twice held DHS in contempt in 2026 for deporting young asylum seekers protected by a court settlement: at least 107 removals found in July, then the second deportation to El Salvador of the same 19-year-old in September, after he had already been returned once. DHS blamed 'communication errors.'

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Deported to El Salvador Despite Withholding Order

Federal officials removed Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador despite a preexisting withholding order barring that destination, then spent weeks litigating what it meant to 'facilitate' his return after the Supreme Court intervened. Returned in June 2025 to face criminal charges, he was released from ICE custody in December 2025, and the criminal case was dismissed in May 2026 as vindictive prosecution; the Justice Department has appealed.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Secret Deportation of 252 Venezuelans to CECOT Mega-Prison

252 Venezuelans were secretly deported to CECOT, where HRW documented torture, sexual violence, prolonged incommunicado detention, and denial of basic necessities. At least 48.8% had no criminal history in the United States, and at least 62 had asylum cases pending. All 252 were sent to Venezuela in a July 18, 2025 prisoner exchange.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Forced Disappearances of Salvadoran Deportees in El Salvador's Prison System

Systematic forced disappearances of Salvadoran nationals deported from the US, held incommunicado in Salvadoran prisons including CECOT with no access to lawyers, families, or courts. The US is accused of breaching non-refoulement by deporting people to a system that human rights groups document as practising enforced disappearance. Amnesty International has said El Salvador's state-of-exception abuses could amount to crimes against humanity.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Secret $6 Million Contract to Outsource Detention to El Salvador's CECOT

A secret $6 million contract enabled the US to outsource detention to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison, where HRW documented systematic torture. The unreleased agreement created an unprecedented mechanism to evade domestic legal protections by transferring detainees to a foreign torture facility.

Grade 3 of 5: Serious Rights Violation

US–Guatemala Asylum Cooperative Agreement: Asylum Seekers Transferred to Guatemala Without a Hearing (2019–2020)

The US sent 939 Central American asylum seekers to Guatemala without letting them apply for asylum in the US. Guatemala's asylum system could not process their claims, and the HRW/Refugees International investigation found that almost none applied there and that some went home to the danger they fled. Transfers stopped in March 2020 because of Covid-19.

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

First-Term TPS Terminations for Six Countries Under White House Pressure (2017–2018)

The first Trump administration tried to end temporary legal status for about 300,000 people from six countries. A court found evidence of White House pressure, rewritten staff recommendations and presidential animus, and blocked the terminations; an appeals court later lifted that block on jurisdictional grounds. The terminations were held off by litigation until the next administration changed course.