By John Q. Hosedrinker 
According to new court filings, the Salvadoran government informed United Nations investigators that the Trump administration retains control over a group of Venezuelan men deported from the U.S. to a controversial prison, directly contradicting prior public statements. Salvadoran authorities stated that the U.S. maintains “jurisdiction and legal responsibility” for the detainees, despite the deportations occurring after a judge’s order to halt the flights. Lawyers for the deportees are using this information to argue against the administration’s claim that they are no longer responsible for the men. The U.S. had previously paid El Salvador to detain the migrants under a controversial agreement, further complicating the legal battles surrounding the deportations.
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El Salvador says Trump admin controls migrants in notorious CECOT prison. It’s a chilling statement, isn’t it? The core of the issue is this: El Salvador is explicitly stating that the United States government, specifically the Trump administration, bears the ultimate “jurisdiction and legal responsibility” for the migrants detained within CECOT, a facility with a grim reputation for alleged human rights abuses. Think about that for a moment – a foreign government is pointing the finger directly at the U.S., claiming Washington holds the reins.
This claim immediately raises a host of troubling questions. If the U.S. is in charge, then what exactly is the nature of that control? Is it just funding? Or does it extend to the conditions within the prison, the treatment of the detainees, and the very legality of their confinement? It is like a modern-day rendition program, only on a much larger scale, where instead of a few people of questionable ties, thousands of people are being transferred to this notoriously abusive prison.
The implications are staggering. If the U.S. government is pulling the strings, it could be held accountable for any mistreatment the migrants endure. This isn’t just a matter of political wrangling; it could potentially involve violations of international human rights law, potentially even crimes against humanity. It’s a legal minefield, and the fact that El Salvador is making this claim to the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights adds significant weight to the allegations.
The timing is interesting, too. These revelations are emerging in the context of legal battles over the deportations of these migrants. Lawyers representing the detainees are using El Salvador’s statements to challenge the U.S. government’s claims that it lacks jurisdiction over the individuals. It’s a strategic move, designed to create doubt and hold the U.S. accountable. This all occurred, too, despite a judge’s order to stop the flights.
Let’s be clear: We’re not just talking about a disagreement over policy. We’re talking about the potential for serious human rights violations. If the allegations of torture and mistreatment within CECOT are true – and there is ample evidence to suggest they are – then the U.S. government’s role in these events is deeply troubling. It’s the same way as Germany controlling concentration camps in Poland.
Now, the Trump administration has maintained that these migrants are outside U.S. legal jurisdiction. But the Salvadoran government’s statement directly contradicts that claim. It’s a public admission by the government, and it is very damaging for the Trump administration. The Trump administration needs to answer for their actions, not only in court, but to the public at large.
The issue isn’t merely about semantics or bureaucratic processes. The U.S. government may be paying for CECOT, for holding the detainees, for whatever is happening there. This is very clearly a disturbing situation.
The potential for criminal behavior extends beyond just Trump himself, as he would have needed many lawyers and advisors to carry out this operation. The fact that several DOJ lawyers may have committed perjury under oath makes things even worse. It’s an issue that touches on the integrity of the justice system and the rule of law.
The situation is even more complicated by the fact that the deportations happened in March, defying a judge’s order to halt the flights. And the fact that the Salvadoran government offered to return prisoners in exchange for releasing the detainees reveals even more issues.
What should one make of the situation? The article makes a great point when it says that the U.S. can’t have it both ways. They can’t claim they are not responsible for the detainees, and then turn around and claim authority over those same people. The U.S. government needs to be held responsible.