The first-ever footage from inside El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison offers a rare and disturbing glimpse into life behind bars.
The Centre for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT) has been under fire since opening, quickly earning its reputation as the world’s harshest prison. Human rights groups have slammed it as “inhumane” and a “black hole for basic dignity.”
Inside, inmates endure extreme restrictions. Their heads are shaved every five days. Cells designed for 100 people offer only 80 metal-framed beds — no mattresses, no privacy, no relief.
Meals are eaten by hand. Inmates spend nearly all day confined, with only 30 minutes of highly monitored exercise allowed.
A number of detainees sent to CECOT by the U.S. — including during the Trump administration — have been confirmed as non-criminals. Despite this, many remain imprisoned without intervention.
Recent video from inside the prison, shared on social media, shows inmates pressing against their cell bars, desperate to be seen. The footage highlights their desperation, silence, and complete lack of personal freedom.
The clip was posted by Matt Gaetz, a former Congressman and vocal Trump supporter, who traveled to the site with other lawmakers. Gaetz has been at the center of ethics investigations, though he has denied all accusations.
Beyond the cramped shared cells, CECOT also houses solitary confinement units — stark concrete boxes with no light, no bedding, and no contact.
The prison is home to alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang — a Venezuelan criminal network — but due process has been largely absent. Critics argue many inmates were deported without trials or proper identification.
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One such case involves Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man from Maryland deported earlier this year. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled his deportation was a mistake and ordered federal efforts to secure his release. Still, he remains inside CECOT.
Built to hold 40,000 prisoners, there are already plans to double its capacity. With footage now revealing the grim inside, international attention is once again turning to what’s happening within its walls.
