In Santa Ana, El Salvador, the Centro Industrial prison presents a stark contrast to the notorious supermax CECOT, where Kilmar Abrego Garcia was initially held. Unlike CECOT, known for housing tattooed gang members in harsh conditions, Centro Industrial features trusted inmates who wear yellow t-shirts and engage in productive activities such as farming and factory work. Prison officials claim that their facility does not include gang members, as they exclusively accommodate inmates with good behavior nearing the end of their sentences.
Abrego Garcia’s transfer to this low-security prison raises concerns among human rights advocates, contradicting assertions by both the U.S. and Salvadoran governments that he is a dangerous MS-13 member. His exact location remains undisclosed, and he has been allowed no contact with family or legal counsel. Critics, including Gabriela Santos from the Human Rights Institute, question the legitimacy of his detainment, citing a lack of legal framework for such agreements between the Trump administration and President Nayib Bukele.
Santos highlights the broader implications of Bukele’s power, suggesting that it undermines the rule of law and human rights in El Salvador. The president’s state of exception, declared in response to rampant gang violence, has led to mass incarcerations, with reports of human rights abuses, including torture and malnutrition, affecting about 85,000 detainees.
While El Salvador’s security situation has improved, resulting in Bukele’s high popularity, human rights advocates caution against the authoritarian measures taken to achieve this stability. They argue that such actions cannot be justified by popularity alone, citing historical precedents that warn against the erosion of democratic principles for the sake of security.
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