Washington, D.C. – Immigrant rights advocates and legal experts condemned the Trump administration’s covert deportations of asylum seekers and long-term U.S. residents to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, a facility infamous for human rights abuses, during a press call organized by the Welcome With Dignity Campaign.
Since March 15, at least 280 individuals—including asylum seekers with pending cases—have been forcibly transferred to CECOT under a reported $6 million agreement between the U.S. and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s government. The administration has refused to disclose detainee names or the terms of the deal, raising alarms over due process violations.
Advocates Demand Accountability
Andrea Flores, Vice President of Immigration Policy at FWD.us, accused the administration of pushing the U.S. toward a constitutional crisis. From targeting green card holders to disappearing people with Temporary Protected Status, President Trump is operating outside the law,” she said, citing cases like Andry Hernandez Romero and Maiker Espinoza, who were deported under unverified claims of an “invasion.
Rebecca Cassler, a senior attorney with the American Immigration Council, highlighted the case of Edicson Quintero Chacón, who was deported mid-litigation. “Sending people to an overseas prison to evade judicial review undermines the very foundation of our legal system,” she said.
CECOT: A “Black Hole” of Abuse
Noah Bullock, Executive Director of Cristosal, warned that El Salvador’s prison system operates without legal oversight, enabling disappearances. “This is a deliberate tactic to terrorize migrants,” he said.
Robyn Barnard of Human Rights First condemned the deportations as tantamount to torture. “These individuals vanished from ICE custody without notice to families or lawyers. The U.S. must end this secrecy and bring them back.”
Families Left in the Dark
Michelle Brané of Together & Free likened the policy to authoritarian tactics. “Families are desperate for answers. Due process isn’t optional—it’s what defines America.”
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