Inside CECOT: 60 Minutes Investigates the Hidden Cost of a Controversial Deportation Policy

This segmente was postponed for a future broadcast.

In its report titled Inside CECOT, 60 Minutes turns its focus to a deportation policy that has raised serious legal and human rights concerns. Earlier in 2025, the Trump administration deported hundreds of Venezuelan migrants not back to Venezuela, but to El Salvador. Many of those sent had no criminal convictions and no prior connection to the country.

The administration claimed the migrants were linked to terrorism, yet months later, the U.S. government has still not released a complete list of names or detailed evidence supporting those allegations. This lack of transparency has fueled lawsuits, advocacy efforts, and international criticism, especially as reports emerged about where the deportees were being held.

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Inside CECOT: El Salvador’s Most Feared Prison

The deported migrants were sent to CECOT, short for the Terrorism Confinement Center, a massive high-security prison built by El Salvador’s government as part of President Nayib Bukele’s crackdown on gangs. Designed to hold tens of thousands of inmates, CECOT is known for extreme isolation, strict control, and conditions that human rights organizations have repeatedly described as inhumane.

Former detainees interviewed by Sharyn Alfonsi describe being held in overcrowded cells with little access to sunlight, medical care, or basic hygiene. Several recount routine physical abuse, prolonged confinement, and psychological trauma. Their accounts paint a picture of a system built for punishment rather than due process, with detainees often unsure why they were there or how long they would remain.

Voices From the Inside: Accounts From Released Detainees

A central strength of the 60 Minutes investigation lies in the firsthand testimony of migrants who were eventually released from CECOT. Speaking publicly for the first time, they describe being treated as criminals without ever seeing a judge or lawyer. Some say they were beaten upon arrival, stripped of personal belongings, and denied contact with their families.

These accounts are especially troubling given that several detainees say they were never charged with crimes in either the United States or El Salvador. For families back home, months passed with no confirmation of where their loved ones were being held, adding another layer of suffering to an already opaque process.

Legal Battles and Unanswered Questions

Nine months after the deportations began, major questions remain unresolved. Civil rights groups continue to press the U.S. government for the names of those deported and the evidence used to justify their removal. Lawsuits argue that the transfers violated due process protections and international agreements governing asylum and deportation.

The investigation highlights a growing concern among legal experts that labeling individuals as terrorists without judicial review sets a dangerous precedent. By outsourcing detention to a foreign prison system with limited oversight, critics argue the U.S. may be attempting to sidestep constitutional and humanitarian obligations.

Why This Story Matters Now

Inside CECOT arrives at a moment when immigration enforcement, national security, and human rights are deeply intertwined in political debate. The segment goes beyond policy talking points, focusing instead on the real-world consequences for individuals caught in the system. It forces a reckoning with how far governments are willing to go in the name of security.

Produced by Oriana Zill de Granados, the report reflects 60 Minutes’ long-standing approach to accountability journalism. By bringing hidden practices into public view, the investigation challenges official narratives and gives voice to people who otherwise would remain unseen. For many, Inside CECOT is not just a report about one prison, but a broader examination of power, secrecy, and the human cost of political decisions.