A mother has shared her distressing experience of seeing her son on television footage from El Salvador’s infamous CECOT prison shortly after he was supposed to return home. Over 200 Venezuelans were deported from the US to El Salvador, accused of being associated with criminal gangs Tren de Aragua or MS-13, without specific details provided about their alleged crimes. The detainees are now housed in CECOT, where inmates are physically constrained and have their heads shaved.
Myrelis Casique López conversed with her son, Francisco José García Casique, on Saturday morning, who informed her about his deportation to Caracas, Venezuela. However, he did not arrive home as expected, and the next day, his mother saw him shackled on TV in CECOT, far away from his residence.
US immigration authorities stated that the 238 individuals were confirmed as gang members before their transfer to El Salvador, emphasizing the administration’s priority to remove these individuals to prevent further crimes. Meanwhile, Ms. Casique maintains her son’s innocence, asserting that he is not involved in any criminal activities but worked as a barber.
Ms. Casique believes that her son’s tattoos, which helped her recognize him in the prison footage, led to his arrest and deportation. Similar claims have been made by families of other detainees, like Mervin Yamarte, highlighting the emotional turmoil caused by the situation.
CECOT serves as a core element of El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s strategy to enforce stringent law enforcement measures and diminish crime rates in the country. The prison’s harsh conditions include overcrowded cells with minimal amenities, strict regulations on inmates’ appearance, and limited movement outside of their confinement spaces.
Prisoners are mandated to wear specific clothing, have their heads shaved regularly, and endure restrictive living conditions with limited access to basic comforts. The facility’s oppressive environment reflects the government’s approach to maintain order and security within its penal system.