. A group of detained immigrants in Texas staged a desperate plea for help, fearing deportation to the infamous CECOT prison in El Salvador.
Detainees spell SOS to oppose deportation to El Salvador prison
In a powerful act of protest, 31 detainees at the Bluebonnet Detention Center in Anson, Texas, formed a human “SOS” in the facility’s yard.
“Their message was a cry for help. It was captured by a drone operated by Reuters as they face potential deportation to the CECOT prison in El Salvador.”
Many of these men are Venezuelan migrants, accused of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang. But families and detainees insist the allegations are false.
Social media reaction
The image of people detained at a U.S. immigration center forming a human SOS as a cry for help left viewers stunned. It also sparked widespread debate.
One person said: Wow that drone was thr at the right time then..
A second wrote: Because they know how tough that prison actually is , it’s a proper prison not a holiday camp like most .
While a third commented: How terrifying
Another added: They need to fight back …this is our land …the queen wanted the European people back even Trump
Someone else said: Bye guys looks nice there. Maybe if these folks came to the country and acted right they wouldn’t be on that nice beach. Good riddenance.
Another user added: Of course they’re afraid! They’ve done horrible things and now they’re going to be held accountable!
What Makes the El Salvador Prison So Feared Among Detainees?
CECOT (Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo) is one of the most feared prisons in the world. Described as “Guantánamo on steroids,” it houses alleged gang members under brutal conditions:
– No family visits, no daylight exposure
– No clear release date
– 70 inmates crammed into single cells
The prison is central to **Donald Trump’s revived immigration crackdown**, and is being used to house deported individuals, many without due process.
Trump revives a controversial law to fast-track deportations
Former President Donald Trump has reactivated the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, last widely used during WWII to detain Japanese-Americans without trial.
This law allows for deportations without immigration hearings, even for those who already have court dates scheduled.
One Venezuelan man, Diover Millan, has an asylum hearing on May 1. But under the revived law, that date may be erased. “If he’s deported under this act, the court date doesn’t exist,” a U.S. official said in a recording obtained by Reuters.
Deportation to CECOT: A life sentence without a trial
One of the most harrowing examples is Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran granted protected status in the U.S. in 2019. ICE accused him of MS-13 involvement and deported him—illegally, it was later admitted.
Despite the error, the Trump administration says it can’t bring him back. El Salvador’s President **Nayib Bukele** refused to reverse the decision, mockingly posting “Oopsie… Too late” on X (formerly Twitter).
Migrants fear deportation to CECOT is a death sentence. With no legal review and no appeals, they may vanish into a prison infamous for:
– Torture allegations
– Indefinite detentions
– Inhumane conditions
“If I have no criminal record in any country I’ve lived in, how can they send me there?” one detainee asked in a Reuters audio recording.
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a temporary halt to these deportations, offering a moment of relief. But the future remains uncertain for the hundreds facing removal to El Salvador’s CECOT prison.