El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has hit out at accusations made by a Maryland migrant who claims he was tortured inside a notorious El Salavador prison.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia alleges he was physically abused and forced to endure inhumane conditions in El Salvador’s notorious CECOT super-prison after being removed from country as part of Donald Trump’s border crackdown.
In court documents filed Wednesday, he alleged he was severely beaten, deprived of sleep and psychologically tortured in the CECOT prison.
He said he was kicked and hit so often after arrival that by the following day, he had visible bruises and lumps all over his body.
In a bid to debunk the accusations, the Salvadoran leader shared a video with a message denying Garcia was mistreated.
Garcia’s lawsuit alleged constant threats from fellow inmates and harsh, 24-hour lighting. However, the newly released footage paints a starkly different picture.
Rather than the frail, tortured figure described in his court documents, Garcia appears calm and well-adjusted. Garcia described losing more than 30 pounds within two weeks at CECOT, citing overcrowded cells, inmate violence, and threats from guards.
In one segment, Garcia is seen in good spirits as he enjoyed cocktails with Senator Chris Van Hollen, one week after he was moved from CECOT – the maximum security prison where he alleges the abuse took place.
A newly surfaced video has cast doubt on Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s (pictured) claims of abuse during his deportation to El Salvador
The video shows Garcia – who previously alleged torture and inhumane conditions in El Salvador’s notorious CECOT super-prison – appearing in good spirits, smiling and shaking hands with officials at the airport just before boarding a flight to the U.S.
In an additional clip from a mid-April meeting with Senator Chris Van Hollen (left), Garcia (right in plaid) is seen enjoying cocktails
Footage from Garcia’s time at the Centro Industrial prison in Santa Ana, El Salvador, where he was transferred after CECOT, shows him comfortably participating in recreational activities like soccer, fishing, and gardening
The Maryland Senator, who visited Garcia in El Salvador, said that he ‘did not’ sense any abuse during their meeting, according to an April 18 interview.
Video from Garcia’s time at the Centro Industrial prison in Santa Ana, El Salvador, where he was transferred after CECOT, shows him participating in recreational activities like soccer, fishing, and gardening.
Garcia was also seen smiling and shaking hands with officials at the airport just before boarding a flight back to the U.S.
In the clip, he’s seen moving comfortably, with no visible signs of the abuse he described.
Garcia, who was deported to El Salvador on March 15, 2020, was part of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, despite a 2019 U.S. immigration judge ruling that barred his deportation due to threats from gang violence in his home country.
Garcia’s deportation was later labeled an ‘administrative error,’ prompting legal action from him and his wife, who filed a lawsuit claiming he was tortured during his detention.
The Trump administration claimed hand tattoos were evidence that Garcia was a member of MS-13, and footage later emerged showing he was suspected of human trafficking in 2022.
The Maryland Senator, who visited Garcia in El Salvador, said that he ‘did not’ sense any abuse during their meeting, according to an April 18 interview
The footage, filmed during his deportation process, shows Garcia moving comfortably, with no visible signs of the abuse he described in his lawsuit. Pictured: Kilmar Abrego Garcia at the Centro Industrial prison in Santa Ana, El Salvador, where he was transferred after CECOT
In legal filings, Garcia had claimed that his time at CECOT – a facility known for housing dangerous gang members – was marked by sleep deprivation, beatings, psychological torture, and overcrowded, unsanitary conditions. Pictured: San Salvador forces took heavy security measures inside the CECOT facility
In his suit, Garcia described losing more than 30 pounds within two weeks at CECOT, citing overcrowded cells, inmate violence, and threats from guards. Pictured: San Salvador forces took heavy security measures inside the CECOT facility
Garcia’s deportation was a significant point of dispute for immigration advocates, who called it unjust and hasty. The Trump administration, however, has since defended the decision, labeling Garcia an MS-13 gang member.
Meanwhile, Garcia is facing human smuggling charges in Tennessee.
A federal judge has ruled that he is eligible for release under certain conditions as he awaits trial.
However, his attorneys requested that he remain in jail for fear of another deportation.
Justice Department officials have indicated plans to prosecute Garcia on smuggling charges before considering any further deportation, according to the Associated Press.
Separately, the department has stated that Garcia may be deported to a third country instead of El Salvador, though no timeline has been provided. Garcia’s attorneys have expressed concerns that he could be deported immediately.
