The Daily Trump Sent Them to a Notorious Prison. Torture Followed.
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Dec 8, 2025 
Julie Turkewitz, the Andes bureau chief for The New York Times, investigates the harrowing experiences of Venezuelan men deported to a notorious Salvadoran prison. She reveals shocking accounts of torture and abuse, including physical and sexual violence. Julie shares how these men were labeled as gang members based on tattoos, and discusses their desperate protests against inhumane conditions. The podcast explores the U.S. government's complicity in this crisis and the long-term impacts on survivors, highlighting the dire consequences of harsh immigration policies.
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Deportations As Public Deterrence
- The mass deportation to a Salvadoran prison was intentionally public and meant to deter migration to the U.S.
- After the flights, the men effectively disappeared into a legal and informational black box.
Tattoos Used As Gang Evidence
- U.S. officials used tattoos and a rating system to label many deportees as gang members despite scant evidence.
- That categorization helped justify sending men to a notorious Salvadoran prison even when proof was lacking.
Squalid Cells And Denied Medical Care
- Prison cells held about 10 men on metal bunk beds without mattresses and with open cistern water for drinking and bathing.
- Detainees were routinely denied medical care, leading to severe incidents like insulin denial and a doctor telling one inmate "it is time to die."
