Gang members sit in their cell upon their arrival at the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, June 2024. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

El Salvador's president has offered to incarcerate criminals deported from the US at The Terrorism Confinement Center, a mega-prison intentionally isolated from urban areas that can accommodate up to 40,000 inmates. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

In February 2023, Salvadoran authorities launched what they claim to be "Latin America's biggest prison." The Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a 57-acre "mega-prison", located over 40 miles east of the capital, San Salvador, in a rural region of the Tecoluca district. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

The facility, intentionally isolated from urban areas, can accommodate up to 40,000 inmates, including leaders and members of the criminal gangs, particularly Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and its rival, Barrio 18. As of August 2024, the prison housed 14,500 inmates, according to government reports. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

CECOT has attracted global attention, both positive and negative. Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich praised the facility in a June 2024 post, stating, "This is the way. Tough on criminals." A U.S. Republican Party delegation from the House of Representatives, led by then Congressman Matt Gaetz, visited the prison a month later. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

Many human rights organizations have come out against the center and El Salvador's security policy more broadly. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

A report from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), published in September 2024, warned that the number of inmates at the prison was much higher than the latest official figures released and that overcrowding could reach 133%. They concluded that each inmate had an average space of 0.60 sq meters (6.45 sq feet), a violation of international standards. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

Data from the World Prison Brief (WPB) says El Salvador has per capita the highest prison population rate of anywhere in the world, with 1,659 inmates per 100,000 residents. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

In March 2022, El Salvador's president declared a state of emergency which remains in effect, leading to the arrest of over 84,000 individuals by state security forces. Justice and Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro has said the country is looking to make an additional 8,000 arrests. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

Civil society organizations and advocates have reported over 6,000 human rights violations including arbitrary detentions, torture, due process violations, enforced disappearances, and 366 deaths within state custody. The government denies the allegations. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

Several YouTubers have generated millions of views for their prison visit videos, highlighting the prison's harsh conditions. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

The Trump administration is assessing whether it could take up El Salvador's offer to house U.S. citizens convicted of crimes in its jails, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday, despite the apparent illegality of such a move. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

Rubio, asked about the proposal during a news conference in Costa Rica on Tuesday, called it "an incredible offer, an unprecedented one." "Obviously, we'll have to study it on our end; there are obviously legalities involved. We have a constitution, we have all sorts of things, but it's a very generous offer," he said. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

The U.S. Constitution provides protections for citizens. Courts have ruled that Americans cannot be stripped of their citizenship for committing crimes, meaning they cannot be deported. President Trump later said he would enact the plan "in a heartbeat" if he had the legal right to do so, and said it would be cheaper than holding inmates in private U.S. prisons. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

"We're looking at that right now, but we could make deals where we'd get these animals out of our country," Trump told reporters at the White House. Trump himself suggested last month that the U.S. could pay foreign countries "a very small fee" to imprison Americans who are repeat criminal offenders, billing the idea as a cost-saving measure. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

As well as the legal question, the plan would also likely face opposition due to the conditions in El Salvador's jails. The U.S. State Department's website says prison conditions in El Salvador are "harsh and dangerous" and notes risks from overcrowding. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

On his X platform on Monday night, Elon Musk, the billionaire heading Trump's drive to shrink the federal government and cut costs, called El Salvador's proposal a "Great idea!!" via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

Salvadoran NGOs have warned that human rights could be endangered if the Central American country were to receive prisoners from the United States in their jails. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

“What is going to happen is more human rights violations and what worries us the most is that, well, we can even turn into Guantanamo,” said Ingrid Escobar, director of Legal Aid Organization. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

"Everyone should be very worried about the existence of a jail where the undesirable people of a society can be sent and disappeared indefinitely, without the minimal guarantees of respect for their fundamental rights,” said Noah Bullock, director of human rights organization Cristosal. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

Gang members are processed upon their arrival at the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, June 2024. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

Gang members sit after arriving at the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, June 2024. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

A gang member walks to his cell after arriving at the Terrorism Confinement Cente in Tecoluca, El Salvador, June 2024. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

Gang members walk to their cells after arriving at the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, June 2024. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

Members of the security forces stand guard as gang members walk to their cells after arriving at the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, June 2024. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia

Gang members sit after arriving at the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, June 2024. via Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia