Human Rights Watch reports that Salvadoran nationals deported from the United States have been arbitrarily detained in El Salvador and have disappeared into the prison system. The organization interviewed 20 relatives and lawyers of 11 Salvadorans deported between March and October 2025 who were immediately detained upon arrival. More than 9,000 Salvadorans have been deported from the U.S. since January 2025, with some sent to the Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT) mega prison.
Detainees cannot communicate with families or lawyers, according to the report. Relatives and lawyers often do not know detainees' whereabouts or reasons for detention. In five cases, relatives learned through litigation at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Salvadoran authorities have provided no information on detainees being brought before a judge.
Juanita Goebertus, Human Rights Watch's Americas director, stated: 'Deportation should not lead to enforced disappearance, and detainees have rights to due process and family notification.' The organization's report alleges that detainees are often held based on scant evidence and vague accusations, with limited due process, mass trials, and lawyers losing track of clients. Prisons have been accused of human rights abuses, including beatings, sexual abuse, and deteriorating conditions.
These detentions occur within the context of President Nayib Bukele's declaration of a state of emergency in March 2022, which has been extended for nearly four years, suspending constitutional rights. Around 91,300 detentions have occurred since the state of emergency began. President Nayib Bukele claims 8,000 innocent people have been released, stating: '8,000 innocent people have been released.'
The situation has left families in distress, with many deportees having family in the U.S. A 47-year-old mother in Maryland without legal status last spoke to her son after his deportation on March 15, 2025, and remains unaware of his condition or location.
El Salvador's Presidential Office did not respond to requests for comment. The report highlights systemic issues within El Salvador's justice system under the extended state of emergency, where due process protections have been significantly weakened.
The Human Rights Watch findings come amid ongoing scrutiny of El Salvador's security policies, which have drawn both international criticism for human rights concerns and domestic support for reducing crime rates. The organization's documentation of deportee cases adds to growing evidence of due process violations within the country's prison system, particularly affecting vulnerable populations including those returned from abroad. The lack of transparency around detainee locations and legal status creates significant barriers for families seeking information about loved ones who have been deported and detained.
Human Rights Watch's investigation reveals that the arbitrary detentions are part of broader patterns under the state of emergency, where legal safeguards have been eroded. The report notes that detainees face mass trials where individual cases are not properly examined, and lawyers frequently lose contact with their clients once they enter the prison system. This systemic breakdown in judicial oversight contributes to the enforced disappearances described in the report.
The CECOT mega prison, where some deportees are held, has been criticized for overcrowding and poor conditions. Human rights advocates report that abuses in such facilities are widespread, with detainees subjected to violence and neglect. These conditions exacerbate the challenges for deportees who may already be vulnerable due to their recent removal from the U.S. and separation from family support networks.
Families of detainees often face immense difficulties in obtaining information, as Salvadoran authorities maintain secrecy around detention operations. The reliance on international bodies like the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for updates underscores the lack of domestic accountability mechanisms. This opacity leaves many relatives in limbo, unsure if their loved ones are alive or receiving basic rights.
The report's findings have implications for U.S. deportation policies, raising questions about whether authorities adequately consider the risks faced by returnees in El Salvador. As deportations continue, advocates urge greater scrutiny of human rights conditions in receiving countries to prevent complicity in abuses.