Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran migrant, denounced having been the victim of physical and psychological torture after he was illegally deported from the U.S. to El Salvador, despite having a court order protecting him.
His testimony, which was revealed in documents filed in federal court in Maryland, exposes alleged gross human rights violations committed inside the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot), which is known as the “mega-prison” built by the government of Nayib Bukele.
Torture inside the Cecot mega-jail
Kilmar Ábrego García was detained in March 2025 and sent along with other Venezuelan and Salvadoran migrants to this facility.
It was designed to incarcerate gang members.
His account details abuses such as:
Systematic beatings
Sleep deprivation
Severe malnutrition
According to his defense, Kilmar Ábrego was forced to remain on his knees for nine hours, and any movement or fall was met with violence.
During his two-week confinement, he lost more than 14 kilos and was confined to a cell with 24-hour lighting, no mattresses and minimal hygienic conditions.
This case represents one of the first direct testimonies about the conditions at Cecot.
It is a prison that has been criticized by international organizations but for which there is little documentation.
Illegal deportation despite court order
Buzzy
The most alarming aspect of the case is that Kilmar Ábrego was deported despite having an order of protection issued by a U.S. federal judge.
The Donald Trump administration, along with the Salvadoran government, ignored the injunction, keeping him out of the country for months.
Although in June the Supreme Court ordered his return, upon his return to the U.S. he was indicted in Tennessee for alleged human trafficking, a charge his defense categorically rejects.
Kilmar Abrego is currently being held in a Nashville jail, and although a judge ordered his release pending trial, his attorneys have requested that he remain in federal custody.
The reason: they fear that ICE will try to deport him again, this time to a third country other than El Salvador.
What migrants should know
Ábrego García was detained in March 2025
This case highlights the risks faced by thousands of migrants in the U.S., even when they have legal support.
Erroneous deportations and subsequent abuses can endanger human lives.
It is essential that those who are undergoing the immigration process:
Consult with an immigration attorney
Demand in writing the court orders issued
Report any irregularities to the appropriate consulate.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
