Abrego Garcia was Disgustingly Tortured in CECOT According to Lawsuit
Torture Allegations Emerge From El Salvador Prison Tied to Trump Policy
Kilmar Abrego Garcia says he never imagined his bid for asylum would end in a cell half a continent away. Yet, according to a newly amended federal lawsuit, that’s exactly where the former U.S. resident found himself after being transferred to El Salvador under one of Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration deals, and what happened next, he claims, was nothing short of a nightmare.
“A Living Hell” Behind Bars
The filing paints a harrowing picture of daily life inside the Tecoluca mega-prison, a facility that Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele hails as the centerpiece of his anti-gang crackdown. Abrego Garcia alleges that guards:
Beat him savagely with batons, fists, and even the butts of their rifles.
Denied him sleep, keeping bright lights on all night and banging on the bars whenever prisoners nodded off.
Forced him to kneel for nine straight hours from evening to dawn while striking anyone who collapsed. He was barred from bathroom breaks and soiled himself repeatedly.
Starved him, granting only scraps of rice or watery soup.
Subjected him to psychological warfare, warning that MS-13 members would “tear him apart” if he stepped out of line.
The complaint argues these abuses violate international human-rights treaties and the U.S. Constitution, because, despite being offshore, the transfer was orchestrated by American officials during Trump’s presidency.
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A Policy Under Fire—Again
Abrego Garcia was one of thousands shunted to El Salvador under a 2020 “Asylum Cooperation Agreement” championed by the Trump administration. Critics said the deal effectively outsourced America’s asylum system to a country still reeling from gang violence and weak rule of law. Human-rights groups warned that detainees would face inhumane conditions, warnings the new lawsuit claims have now come true.
Why This Matters
Legal exposure for U.S. officials: If a court finds that U.S. agents knowingly consigned migrants to torture, it could open a floodgate of similar suits.
Foreign-policy fallout: The case spotlights Washington’s reliance on Bukele’s authoritarian tactics, complicating an already tense relationship.
Election-year optics: With immigration set to dominate 2026 midterm debates, fresh allegations of cruelty under a prior GOP administration could reshape the conversation.
The Road Ahead
Abrego Garcia is seeking unspecified damages and a declaratory judgment that the transfer policy was unconstitutional. Lawyers representing him suggest more plaintiffs may soon join, hinting at a class-action fight that could expose the full scope of suffering inside Tecoluca.
For now, the allegations stand unproven in court, but they offer a chilling reminder of what can happen when human rights are treated as a negotiable commodity at the border.
Wow. Just wow. People in charge of this country are monsters.
Sue the bastards.