Juanita Goebertus from Human Rights Watch outlines severe human rights violations in Salvadoran prisons amidst the state of emergency. Overcrowding, lack of communication, and mistreatment are prevalent, particularly in CECOT. The situation worsens for detained minors, adding to the crisis, which has led to deaths among prisoners due to neglect and abuse. Urgent international intervention is needed to ensure humane treatment and the protection of rights.
Juanita Goebertus, Director of the Americas Division of Human Rights Watch, provides a declaration concerning prison conditions in El Salvador under the J.G.G. v. Trump case. With relevant educational credentials and experience in monitoring human rights in El Salvador since 2022, she emphasizes that her insights are drawn from firsthand knowledge during her visits to the country, including her most recent trip in 2024.
Individuals deported under the 1789 Alien Enemies Act are detained at the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) in Tecoluca, which was originally designed to hold 20,000 inmates but later expanded to accommodate 40,000. Human Rights Watch has informed the UN Human Rights Committee that such overcrowding raises concerns about the ability to provide individualized treatment, breaching the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.
In CECOT and other Salvadoran prisons, detainees are denied contact with their families and lawyers, facing online court hearings with extensive groups simultaneously. The government labels these detainees as “terrorists,” claiming they will not be released. Human Rights Watch notes that no detainees have been released from this facility, as access for human rights organizations is heavily restricted, and visits for journalists have been conducted under strict limits, leading to testimonies revealing severe confinement conditions.
Although CECOT may have superior infrastructure compared to other prisons, abuses documented in facilities such as Izalco, La Esperanza, and Santa Ana prisons include torture, inhumane treatment, and violations of legal rights. Detainees often lack adequate healthcare and nutrition, indicative of the broader systemic failures in El Salvador’s handler of incarcerated individuals.
The dire prison conditions are compounded by a state of emergency that has persisted for three years, during which due process rights have been suspended. Authorities have reportedly detained approximately 85,000 individuals, which is about 1.4% of the national population. Despite lacking transparency, Human Rights Watch estimates that 109,000 inmates are currently housed in facilities meant for only 70,000, with over 350 fatalities documented since the emergency began, according to human rights groups.
In 2024, Human Rights Watch released a report detailing abuses against children under the state of emergency. Approximately 3,300 minors have been detained, with many having no affiliation with gangs. The report outlines cases of torture and harsh incarceration conditions, which further escalated after legislation mandated the transfer of children charged with organized crime to adult prisons, violating international standards for juvenile justice.
Human Rights Watch has conducted extensive interviews with over 30 former inmates and their families regarding prison conditions, including alarming accounts of violence and overcrowding. Individuals described brutal treatment from authorities upon arrival, with overcrowded cells lacking sanitation and basic necessities. One former inmate recounted being beaten and confined with numerous others in a pitiful and dangerous environment.
Further evidence in the organization’s investigations revealed serious medical neglect of inmates suffering from chronic health issues. Reports of disease outbreaks, resulting in preventable deaths, indicate a staggering disregard for humane treatment. In some instances, essential medications were not provided, potentially leading to increased mortality rates among detainees suffering from preexisting conditions.
Human Rights Watch previously reported on the plight of Salvadorans deported from the United States in their 2020 document “Deported to Danger,” revealing accounts of abuse during detention. Former deportees reported assaults by law enforcement and prolonged imprisonment under terrible conditions, showcasing an ongoing pattern of violence and mistreatment against those forcibly returned to their home country.
This declaration, created on March 19, 2025, reiterates the urgent need for international awareness and intervention regarding the human rights violations occurring within El Salvador’s prison system.
The declaration by Juanita Goebertus highlights critical issues surrounding the deplorable conditions of prisons in El Salvador and the systemic abuses prisoners face. The significant overcrowding, lack of medical care, and denial of legal rights represent severe violations of both domestic and international human rights standards. Continuous government oversight and accountability are paramount to alleviating the plight of detained individuals, particularly under the current state of emergency. Immediate action is necessary to protect the rights and wellbeing of all detainees within this troubled system.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
