Mervin Jose Yamarte Fernandez thought he had actually shown up in Venezuela when he watched out the home window of his expulsion aircraft. After he reviewed an indicator that stated “San Salvador,” he listened to screams.
” We kept the seats, we really did not wish to release,” he informed ABC Information in Spanish.
Yamarte Fernandez, that was among greater than 250 Venezuelan travelers deported from the united state to El Salvador’s infamous CECOT jail in March, is just one of 3 Venezuelans that stated what they claim was their experience at CECOT to ABC Information.
The Trump management conjured up the Alien Enemies Act– an 18th century war time authority utilized to eliminate noncitizens with little-to-no due procedure– to deport claimed gang participants by saying that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is a “hybrid criminal state” that is attacking the USA.
The Venezuelans were ultimately launched to their home nation in a detainee swap recently.
Yamarte Fernandez and his 2 compatriots, talking to ABC Information from Venezuela, declare that they were defeated and rejected accessibility to legal representatives while restrained at CECOT. They refute being participants of Tren de Aragua.
The claimed whippings started as quickly as the Venezuelans got here in El Salvador, Yamarte Fernandez stated. The guys, that remained in manacles and chains, were quickly gotten rid of from the aircraft and required to CECOT, where they claim they were kicked, defeated and cut.
Salvadoran law enforcement officers companion affirmed participants of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua lately deported by the united state federal government to be put behind bars in the Terrorism Arrest Facility jail, in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador, gotten Mar. 16, 2025.
Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia by means of Reuters
” You’re visiting actual heck,” Yamarte Fernandez stated a CECOT police officer informed him.
The Venezuelan informed ABC Information that they were required to transform clothing before CECOT policemans that remained to defeat them.
” They would not allow us obtain clothed,” Yamarte Fernandez stated. “If you attempted to place on the fighters, they would certainly strike you with a stick in your exclusive components. If you yelled, they would certainly inform you to stop talking.”
” We had contusions around,” he stated. “We really did not recognize what to do.”
Yamarte Fernandez stated he was originally positioned in a cell with 10 individuals however later on moved to a cell with concerning 80 guys.
” We were all constrained with each other, running across each various other,” he stated.
In A Similar Way, Francisco Garcia Casique informed ABC Information that he experienced physical and emotional misuse at the jail. He stated CECOT policemans informed the guys they would certainly never ever leave the jail which “not also the pope or [Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro] might save them.”
Sometimes, Garcia Casique stated, he and the various other guys could not consume alcohol water since their bodies had actually “taken such a pounding.” He rejects claims of belonging to Tren de Aragua and stated he does not recognize why he was sent out to CECOT.
” They connected me to a gang, however they never ever revealed me any type of criminal activities that confirmed I was a criminal, you recognize?” Garcia Casique stated. “I never ever believed I would certainly wind up in a terrorist jail.”
He informed ABC Information he functioned as a barber in the united state and had imagine sustaining his family members in Venezuela.
Ysqueibel Penaloza informed ABC Information he thinks the united state abducted him when he was sent out to CECOT and stopped him from making call or seeing a court.
” It was struck after hit. A lot misuse, both physical and emotional,” he stated. “They reduced our hair when we came to the facility, they totally degraded us by making us strip before lots of people to transform.”
Penaloza stated that when there were site visitors, CECOT policemans would briefly provide cushions, cushions and provide much better food.
Last Monday, Penaloza and Yamarte Fernandez stated jail policemans started to send out physicians and nutritional experts to examine the Venezuelan guys. They claim they were provided soap, hair shampoo and tooth paste, and had their hair cut for the very first time given that they got here.
On July 18, the guys claim they were supplied clothing and were informed by jail policemans they were leaving.
” We sang and yelled and we said thanks to God,” stated Yamarte Fernandez.
In a declaration to ABC Information, DHS Aide Assistant Tricia McLaughlin stated the company sent out the guys to CECOT “where they no more posture a danger to the American individuals.”
” Tren de Aragua and MS-13 are a few of one of the most fierce and callous terrorist gangs on world earth,” stated McLaughlin. “They rape, incapacitate, and murder for sporting activity. Head Of State Trump and Assistant Noem will certainly not enable criminal gangs to intimidate American people.”
DHS really did not discuss the claims of misuse.
Penaloza and Garcia Casique informed ABC Information that they would certainly never ever go back to the united state
” They treated me like a criminal, like a terrorist, they stained my picture,” Garcia Casique stated. “They buffooned me. I wish to be below with my family members in my homeland.”
Yamarte Fernandez informed ABC Information he would certainly go back to the united state– however not under the Trump management.
” I have numerous desires therefore numerous points I left,” he stated. “I am the one that cares for my family members. And the [U.S.] assists you to have whatever.”
