Sent to a third countryCECOTVenezuela
Venezuelan men sent to El Salvador's CECOT prison
Documented stories describe Venezuelan men picked up by ICE—some at CBP One check-ins, traffic stops, or while awaiting unrelated court dates in cities including Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. George—then flown to El Salvador's CECOT prison, often cited for tattoos, photos, or disputed gang allegations despite no criminal record. Former detainees describe beatings, isolation, and sexual assault before later release or transfer to Venezuela. First documented January 2025, cases became recurring by March 2025, concentrated heavily around that month from a single mass transfer, with occasional reports continuing since.
Mostly one period: the stories cluster around Mar 2025, a single event or operation, with occasional reports since.
Share of each month's well-documented stories, Jan 2025 to Oct 2026. Volume is not shown: coverage grew over the record, shares did not have to.
25 stories in 6 states. What accompanies this practice →
“I feel like my son was kidnapped. I’ve spent countless hours searching for him, going from one precinct to another, speaking with numerous people who kept referring me elsewhere. Yet, after all this, no one has given me any information or provided a single document about his case.”
Illinois
Wilker G.S.: Venezuelan man, 23, deported to CECOT prison in El Salvador before trialWilker Miguel Gutiérrez Sierra, 23, was arrested by ICE while awaiting trial on criminal charges in Chicago and deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison three days later, before his case was resolved.Chicago, IL · Mar 15, 2025 · ProPublica, Firstpost, U.S. News & World Report +1
Maikol L.L.: Venezuelan mechanic from Chicago deported to El Salvador prison without due processMaikol Gabriel López Lizano, a 23-year-old mechanic, was deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison over a misdemeanor charge for riding his bike while drinking a beer. His partner called the deportation unjust.Chicago, IL · Mar 15, 2025 · The New Yorker, ProPublica, Firstpost +2
Albert R.P.: Chicago man deported to El Salvador prison before asylum hearingAlbert Jesús Rodríguez Parra, who worked at Wrigley Field and sent money home to his mother, was denied bond over his tattoos and deported days before his asylum hearing.Chicago, IL · Mar 15, 2025 · Texas Tribune, ProPublica, El País +1
New York
North Carolina
Texas
Carlos U.: Venezuelan miner flown to CECOT prison instead of home, held four monthsA miner and cook from Venezuela who asked to be sent home was flown to El Salvador's CECOT prison, where he says guards beat him. He was freed after four months.“Todo ha sido demasiado difícil. El hecho de no saber de él, de no hablar con él, de no verlo aunque sea por videollamadas, pues es una angustia completa todos los días” — Gabriela Mora, su esposaRaymondville, TX · Jul 23, 2025 · El Diario, Wall Street Journal, The Guardian
Pedro Luis S.C.: 28-year-old Venezuelan migrant deported to El Salvador prison over a photoPedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, 28, a Venezuelan migrant with no criminal record, was deported to a maximum security prison in El Salvador over a photo wrongly tied to gang activity.Maverick County, TX · Jun 18, 2025 · Texas Tribune, Reuters, U.S. News & World Report
Neri A.B.: Venezuelan asylum seeker deported to El Salvador prison over tattooNeri Jose Alvarado Borges, a bakery worker with an autism-awareness tattoo honoring his brother, was sent to El Salvador's CECOT despite holding asylum papers.“If someone fell to the floor, they (the guards) will kick you repeatedly on the ground before you could get up. About 20 to 30 times. For about anything they would beat you up.” — Neri AlvaradoLewisville, TX · Mar 15, 2025 · NBC News, NBC DFW, Spectrum Local News
Andry B.B.: Food delivery driver detained by ICE, beaten four months in Salvadoran prisonAndry Omar Blanco Bonilla, 40, a food delivery driver and father of seven, endured four months of beatings at El Salvador's CECOT prison after agents questioned him about tattoos he says represent his family.Dallas, TX · Mar 15, 2025 · CBS News, CourtListener, The Guardian- Jeferson E.: Venezuelan former police officer deported to El Salvador prison despite court orderJeferson Escalona, 19, a former Venezuelan police officer, was deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison in late March 2025 despite a judge's order barring such removals, after denying gang ties alleged from hand-gesture photos.Anson, TX · Jan 2025 · Hindustan Times, ABC News
Utah
Wisconsin
Location not tied to one state
18 Venezuelan men deported to El Salvador prison allege torture, beatingsEighteen Venezuelan men deported to El Salvador's Cecot prison in March 2025 filed a human rights petition alleging beatings, sexual assault and medical neglect before their July release.Jun 23, 2026 · The Guardian, Miami Herald, Vanguardia
Andry H.R.: Gay asylum seeker deported to El Salvador prison, held over four monthsAndry Hernández Romero, a gay Venezuelan makeup artist seeking asylum, was deported to a maximum security prison in El Salvador over disputed tattoos. Released in a prisoner swap, he now seeks asylum in Spain.Tecoluca, El Salvador · May 22, 2026 · The Advocate, Acast, Q Notes +9
Luis M.P.: Venezuelan student deported to Salvadoran prison over tattoosLuis Muñoz Pinto, a 27-year-old Venezuelan who had been studying robotics engineering, was detained during a scheduled Customs and Border Protection appointment under the CBP One program and deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison in March 2025.Mar 3, 2026 · The Guardian, Prime Publishers, Miami New Times +4
Deported Venezuelans describe beatings in El Salvador's CECOT prisonSixteen former detainees of El Salvador's CECOT prison described beatings, isolation, and sexual assault inside the facility where the U.S. has deported migrants.Jul 31, 2025 · Washington Post, The Straits Times, ABC News- Leonardo C.S.: Venezuelan soccer coach detained by CBP, tortured in El Salvador prisonLeonardo José Colmenares Solórzano, a 31-year-old former youth soccer coach with no criminal history, was deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison in March 2025, where he says guards tortured him. He returned to Venezuela in July in a prisoner swap.Jul 18, 2025 · ProPublica, Firstpost, U.S. News & World Report +4
Venezuelan men expelled to Salvadoran prison despite court order allege tortureMore than 230 Venezuelan men were flown to El Salvador's CECOT prison and allege months of torture there. They are now suing the aviation companies that carried out the flights.Jul 17, 2025 · The Guardian, Latin Times, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights +2
Jerce R.B.: Venezuelan soccer player deported to El Salvador over tattooJerce Reyes Barrios, a 36-year-old Venezuelan soccer player and father of two, was deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison. His attorney says the only evidence against him was a soccer-ball tattoo and old Facebook photos.Mar 27, 2025 · NPR, Times of India, Newsweek +2
Francisco José G.C.: Venezuelan barber deported to El Salvador's mega-prisonFrancisco García, a barber who fled Venezuela's crisis and crossed into the US in 2023, was deported under a wartime law to El Salvador's CECOT despite his mother's insistence he is not a gang member.Mar 15, 2025 · BBC, The Guardian, lulac.org
José Manuel R.B.: Venezuelan father sent to El Salvador prison over tattoosJosé Manuel Ramos Bastidas, who crossed legally to pay for his baby's asthma care, was deported not to Venezuela as promised but to El Salvador's CECOT prison over his tattoos.TX · Mar 15, 2025 · Texas Tribune, ProPublica, El País +2- Mervin Y.: Tortilla factory worker deported to El Salvador's mega-prisonMervin Yamarte, who worked 12-hour shifts at a tortilla factory and played football on weekends, was deported under a wartime law to El Salvador's CECOT despite his mother's belief in his innocence.“I threw myself on the floor, saying that God couldn't do this to my son,” — Mervin Yamarte's motherMar 15, 2025 · BBC, The Guardian, lulac.org
Wuilliam L.S.: Deported Venezuelan subjected to stress positions and solitary torture in El SalvadorWuilliam Lozada Sanchez was deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison, where he said he endured hours in stress positions and beatings in a dark punishment cell. He was freed in July as part of a prisoner swap.“There was blood everywhere, screams, people crying, people who couldn't take it and were urinating and vomiting on themselves.” — Luis Muñoz PintoMar 15, 2025 · CBS News
Juan José R.R.: Former technician detained at ICE appointment, subjected to abuse in Salvadoran prisonJuan José Ramos Ramos, a 39-year-old former telephone technician from Venezuela, was deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison in March 2025 after an ICE appointment, where he endured beatings and abuse before his July release.Mar 15, 2025 · CBS News, PBS, American Immigration Council
Franco C.T.: Asylum seeker detained at ICE check-in, deported to Salvadoran prison without noticeFranco Jose Caraballo Tiapa, a 26-year-old Venezuelan barber seeking asylum, was detained at a routine ICE check-in and deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison without notifying his family or lawyers.Feb 3, 2025 · CBS News, Woke Dissident, Yaracuy al Día