Volker Türk, High Commissioner for Human Rights. Photo: UN / Jean-Marc Ferré.
Guacamaya, May 13, 2025. The UN Human Rights Office expressed deep concern this Tuesday about the situation of at least 245 Venezuelans deported from the United States to El Salvador. The complaint is based on the total absence of official information on the expelled citizens, the lack of access to legal representation, and the impossibility of contacting their families.
According to a statement, several of these individuals were expelled under the Alien Enemies Act for alleged ties to certain criminal groups. They are currently presumed to be held at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador, a maximum-security prison known for imposing extremely harsh conditions.
To date, neither the United States nor Salvadoran authorities have released official lists of the detained Venezuelans, and their legal status in El Salvador remains unclear. Numerous family members interviewed by the Office express deep distress at the lack of information regarding the whereabouts and conditions of their loved ones.
The Office has received information from family members and attorneys indicating that more than 100 Venezuelans are being held at the CECOT in El Salvador. According to these data, many were not notified in advance of deportation from the United States to a third country, lacked access to legal counsel, and had no opportunity to challenge the legality of their removal before being deported.
“This situation is deeply concerning regarding a wide range of rights that are fundamental under both U.S. and international law: the rights to due process, protection from arbitrary detention, equality before the law, and protection from torture or other irreparable harm in other states,” said Volker Türk, head of the Office.
The agency noted that the whereabouts and legal status of the deportees remain “totally uncertain,” which could constitute a possible case of enforced disappearance. The international organization also notes that the “degrading rhetoric” toward migrants and the treatment received during deportations exacerbate concerns about possible systematic human rights violations.
Venezuela accused the UN of remaining silent in the face of abuses
The UN statement coincided with statements by the Venezuelan government accusing the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, of maintaining a biased position. These statements were framed in response to a previous statement from the office expressing concern about “the conditions of detention” in the Caribbean country, particularly regarding “critics of the government.”
According to Caracas, Türk’s criticisms were part of a “virulent attack” on Venezuela while remaining silent on alleged abuses committed by other governments. “He seems more focused on keeping his position than on defending human rights,” the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry added in a statement. The executive branch also denounced what it considers an “omission, biased, and cowardly attitude.”
The UN’s denunciation of the deportees comes amid growing international debate over the handling of deportations and the situation of Venezuelan migrants. Relatives of the detainees, human rights organizations, and the Venezuelan government itself insist on the need to clarify the whereabouts of the displaced and guarantee respect for their fundamental rights.
