A joint report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Cristosal has accused El Salvador’s government and the Trump administration of complicity in the torture and abuse of Venezuelan migrants deported to the country earlier this year.

The report details harrowing accounts from at least 40 of the 252 Venezuelans sent to the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot) in March 2025, alleging beatings, sexual violence, and psychological torment.

According to the findings, detainees were subjected to brutal treatment immediately upon arrival. Guards reportedly used batons, kicks, and punches during cell searches, denied legal access, and inflicted degrading punishments. Three individuals reported sexual assault, while others described threats of death and prolonged isolation. One deportee, Gonzalo from Zulia, said, “The nightmare began off the plane – beaten, told ‘you’ve arrived in hell.’”

The deportees were accused—often without evidence—of ties to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defended the deportations as targeting “terrorists,” but the report notes that half of those deported had no criminal records, and only 3% had violent convictions in the U.S.

Cecot, a flagship of President Nayib Bukele’s anti-gang campaign, is notorious for its harsh conditions and mass incarceration. The U.S. transferred the Venezuelans under a detainee swap agreement and later repatriated them to Venezuela in July after their release.

CNN previously interviewed former detainees who corroborated the abuse claims. Jerce Reyes, José Mora, and Rafael Martínez described beatings for minor infractions and rubber bullets used against protestors. Martínez suffered a fractured arm, while Mora called the experience “torture physically and psychologically.”

HRW’s Juanita Goebertus called for independent investigations, and Cristosal’s Noah Bullock demanded accountability. The report warns that rising deportations under President Trump risk entrenching “systematic violations” of human rights.