Washington Post Op-Ed Describes Infamous Salvadoran Prison As 'Political Human Zoo,' Decries Use Of Prisoners As Pawns

Carolina Miranda, a former columnist for the LA Times, wrote in the Washington Post an op-ed likening El Salvador's infamous CECOT prison to a human zoo, decrying its use for political purposes.

In a lengthy publication, Miranda detailed how U.S. officials and social media personalities have used the facility to send tough-on-crime messages. She likened scenes to early 20th-century "human zoos" that displayed Indigenous people in fabricated, demeaning environments, especially as CECOT inmates look at cameras while visitors speak about them on camera just meters away.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Rep. Riley Moore and former Rep. Matt Gaetz are among those who recorded content at the Salvadoran prison.

Conditions inside CECOT have drawn scrutiny from international human rights groups and the U.S. State Department. Inmates are confined to cells without natural light or outdoor access, and sleep on stacked bunks without bedding. Miranda noted that independent monitoring is not permitted, and critics argue the facility violates United Nations standards for the treatment of prisoners.

The author adds that even though CECOT is promoted as a tool to combat gang violence, reporting by outlets such as 60 Minutes and El Faro have raised questions about the legitimacy of the detentions. Many of the Venezuelan migrants recently transferred to the prison by the Trump administration did not have criminal records or pending charges. Their families vehemently deny gang affiliations, but no deportees have been released from the prison.

Miranda added that in parallel reporting has claimed that Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has negotiated with gangs, offering prison benefits and financial incentives in exchange for reduced violence and political support.

Earlier this month a Salvadoran gang leader revealed deals reached with Bukele to help propel him to power and keep him there. The revelation carries more weight considering Bukele's political platform is largely based on his ability to fight gangs and reduce crime in the country.

The column concludes saying that if the allegations are true the CECOT becomes "a bit of a fiction." "An election pact with gang leaders would suggest that the president has simply weaponized gang violence to his benefit," adds Miranda, claiming that the "degrading display of the tattooed men in cages is therefore a show — for the benefit of his supporters and an international right wing enamored of his theatrical displays of mano dura (hard hand) policies."

"Inside CECOT, as in the human zoos of old, the display takes fragments of the truth, then twists and sensationalizes them to transform reality into something brutish, inhuman and extreme — all for entertainment on TikTok," the post ends.