Lawmakers Slam Rubio Over El Salvador Prison Transfers (EXCLUSIVE)
Reps. Nydia Velázquez and Delia Ramirez co-leads letter demanding answers for human rights abuses.
WASHINGTON — A group of House Democrats, co-led by Reps. Nydia Velázquez, D-NY and Delia Ramirez, D-IL, sent a scathing letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, accusing the Trump administration of violating international and U.S. laws by transferring individuals from U.S. custody to El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT. The lawmakers allege that the practice exposes deportees to a high risk of torture and human rights abuses, contravening the principle of non-refoulement and U.S. obligations under the Convention Against Torture.
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The letter, dated April 8, was signed by Ramirez and Velázquez along with Representatives Maxine Waters, John Garamendi, Maxine Dexter, Rashida Tlaib, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Lloyd Doggett, Veronica Escobar, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, among others. It demands an immediate halt to the transfers and seeks detailed explanations from Rubio about the policy. It cites extensive reports from human rights organizations and journalists documenting severe overcrowding, lack of due process, and systematic torture at CECOT, a mega-prison built under Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
“We write to you with the utmost urgency and grave concern,” the lawmakers stated, arguing that the transfers violate the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998, which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they face a credible threat of torture. They also referenced warnings from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Dr. Alice Edwards, who has flagged the prison’s conditions and restraints as facilitating abuse.
The controversy stems from a deal struck between the Trump administration and Bukele’s government, allowing the U.S. to deport individuals—regardless of nationality—to CECOT. During a recent press conference, Rubio defended the arrangement, saying El Salvador complies with “all the international requirements for imprisonment.” The lawmakers, under Velázquez’s leadership, challenged this claim, demanding written assurances from Bukele’s administration to back it up.
Among their pointed questions, the representatives asked whether the U.S. is paying El Salvador to house these individuals and, if so, how much. They also sought clarification on the legal authority for such payments, the fate of those held “pending the United States’ decision on their long-term disposition,” and what oversight exists to ensure their safety. The letter specifically mentioned 17 additional transfers on March 31, asking if more funds would be allocated.
The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lawmakers, spearheaded by Velázquez, gave Rubio until April 14 to provide a “comprehensive response,” warning that failure to act would be an “unconscionable abdication” of U.S. commitments to human rights and the rule of law.
Human rights groups have long criticized CECOT, where conditions reportedly include extreme isolation and a lack of basic amenities like mattresses and sanitation. The facility has become a cornerstone of Bukele’s aggressive anti-gang campaign, drawing both praise from hardline supporters and alarm from advocates who call it a “black hole” for detainees.
The letter, also signed by additional members of Congress whose names appeared repeatedly in the document without specific titles, underscores growing tensions over the administration’s immigration policies, particularly its use of El Salvador as a dumping ground for deportees. Critics, including Ocasio-Cortez, argue the transfers bypass traditional legal protections, while supporters say they’re a necessary tool to combat transnational crime.
“This is about more than policy—it’s about our moral and legal duty,” the lawmakers wrote, with Velázquez at the forefront urging Rubio to reverse course before more individuals are sent to what they describe as a torture-ridden facility.
Full Letter Here—
