‘Hell on earth.’ A Venezuelan deportee describes abuse in El Salvador prison

Karakas, Venezeula – When Jerce Reyes Barrios and other Venezuela borders entered the maximum security prison in this spring al Salvador, the guards said that the guards greeted them with regiments.

Rey Welcome to El Salvador, the sons of the bitch, ”Reyes Barrios said. “You reached the center of terrorist imprisonment. Hell in the world.”

The following Reyes Barrios was the darkest months of his life. Reyes Barrios said he was beaten regularly on his neck, ribs and heads. He and other prisoners were given very little food and was forced to drink contaminated water. In extreme crowded cells, they slept in metal beds without mattresses, listened to the screams of other prisoners.

“There was blood, vomiting and people passed away.

36 -year -old Reyes Barrios, President Trump’s 1798 alien enemies law was one of the more than 250 Venezuelali sent from the United States to El Salvador in March to deport members of the Aragua gang without normal migration procedures. Most men, including Reyes Barrios, insist that they have no ties with the gang and the necessary process is rejected.

After El Salvador continued to be detained, they were sent home as a part of a prisoner’s release of several Americans detained last week.

Venezuela’s chief prosecutor said that interviews with men revealed “systemic torture”, including daily beatings, brutal foods and sexual abuse in Salvadorya prison.

One of the former prisoners, Neeriver Adrián León Rengel made a request to the Internal Security Department on Thursday and accused the US of removing it without the necessary process and requested $ 1.3 million damage.

Reyes Barrios spoke through The Times on Thursday after returning to his hometown Machique, a 140,000 cities that are not far from the Colombian border. He was very pleased to come together with his mother, wife and children. However, he said he was perili from his experience in prison.

Reyes Barrios, once a professional footballer, left Venezuela last year in search of political unrest and economic opportunity. The US entered the US on 1 September at the Otay Mesa border crossing in California as part of the asylum program known as the CBP One. He was immediately detained, accused of being a Gangster and detained migration and customs clearance sanctions.

Earlier this year, a court statement from his lawyer Linette Tobin said that the authorities tied Reyes Barrios to Aragua based on a social media task where he made a hand -made movement by US officials as a gang sign.

Tattoo – with a crown sitting on a football ball, a rosary and word “Duros”Or“ God ” – actually his favorite team is a respect for Real Madrid, Tobin wrote. Hand gesture was a sign language for“ I love you ”.

When he was in custody in California, Reyes Barrios applied for political asylum and other relief. A hearing was held on April 17, but on March 15, El Salvador was “without notification to a lawyer or family”. “He was never arrested or accused of crime, Rey Tobin added Reyes Barrios. “As a footballer, there is a stable employment record and a football coach for children and young people.”

Reyes Barrios and other Venezueli people were deported to El Salvador’s surprise, Human Rights defenders came out of human rights defenders and launched a legal war with the Trump administration.

The prisoners kneel at the Terrorism Gate Center in El Salvador on 16 March 2025.

(Salvador Government)

Reyes Barrios was unaware of the debate on deportation because it resulted in handcuffs from the airport in San Salvador, also resulted in handcuffs to the famous terror imprisonment center.

There, Reyes Barrios said that he and other prisoners were forced to walk on his knees as they were shaved and over and over. He said it was placed in a cell with other 21 men – all Venezuelalilar. The guards encountered a clear section of the beans and bread and told the prisoners that they would never eat chicken or meat again ”.

Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador, has detained tens of thousands of citizens in Cecot and other prisons in recent years, part of a gang pressure, where human rights defenders say that they have been holding thousands of innocent people.

After publishing dramatic photographs and videos of hundreds of prisoners, where hundreds of prisoners come together in humiliating positions, wearing nothing but underwear and shackles, they received attention and praise from US Republicans worldwide. During a meeting with the bouquet in the Oval Office this year, Trump said he was interested in sending El Salvador’s prisons “home breeders” – that is, American prisoners.

President Trump meets with El Salvador President Nayib Buklele at his Oval office on 14 April 2025.

(Washington Post)

Bukele spokesman did not respond to comments on Thursday.

Reyes Barrios said the guards told him and others that he would spend the rest of their lives in prison.

Reyes Barrios said that he started to pray at night: “God, protect my mother and my children. I entrust my soul to you because I think I will die.”

Then, a few days ago, he and other prisoners woke up early in the morning. The guards said 20 minutes to take a shower and prepare to leave.

“At that moment we all shouted with joy,” Reyes Barrios said. “I think this was my only happy day in Cecot.”

After arriving to Venezuela, Reyes Barrios and other returned were detained by the state and had medical controls and interviews with the authorities.

Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro is shown in the presidential palace on 20 February 2024.

(Ariana Cubillos / Associated Press)

Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro seized on the treatment of prisoners, published videos on the state television, where some shoots described painful shootings such as rape, beating and pellet weapons. Venezuela officials, Bukle’yi alleged abuse, he says they are investigating.

Maduro, a leftist authoritarian who has governed Venezuela since 2013, continued to hold on to power by imprisoning and sometimes torture the opponents. In recent years, most of the 7.7 million Venezuellu, who fled the country, has shown as a reason for abandoning political pressure.

Tobin said in a court statement that Reyes Barrios had joined two demonstrations against Maduro at the beginning of 2024. Secondly, Reyes Barrios was detained and tortured by the authorities together with other protesters.

Reyes Barrios said he didn’t want to discuss his policy of Venezuela. He said he was grateful for returning to his family.

“My mother is very happy,” he said.

He was greeted by some young footballers in his hometown. They wore their uniforms and held balloons. Reyes Barrios balanced a ball slightly, gave children hug and high five and smiled.

Lirthicum reported from Mexico City and Karakas from Mogollón, a private correspondent. Times personnel writer Patrick J. McDonnell contributed to Mexico City.