Mervin Yamarte, a Venezuelan migrant, has returned home traumatized after four months of alleged abuse in El Salvador's notorious Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT). Yamarte was among 252 Venezuelans deported from the US in March 2025 as part of a Trump administration immigration crackdown, accused without evidence of gang activity.

Ex-detainees describe "hellish" conditions in CECOT, including beatings, spoiled food, lack of communication with the outside world, and alleged sexual abuse. The prison, built by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for dangerous gang members, reportedly held 80 prisoners per cell designed for 80, with detainees sometimes locked in small, poorly-ventilated cells for 24 hours. The US reportedly paid El Salvador $6 million to house these Venezuelan detainees.

Many of the deported Venezuelans believe they were targeted due to tattoos wrongly linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, despite denying any gang affiliations.Yamarte, for instance, has a "Strong like Mom" tattoo.

The 252 Venezuelan detainees were unexpectedly freed on July 18, 2025, as part of a prisoner exchange deal between Caracas and Washington, where Venezuela released 10 US citizens and permanent residents.Many of the released migrants are now considering legal action against the US government.