El Salvador President Nayib Bukele publicly challenged former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton following her criticism of the country’s Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT, which currently houses gang members and migrants deported from the United States, as reported by Fox News.
The exchange began after Clinton posted on X, sharing an 11-minute video from a PBS Frontline documentary titled “Surviving CECOT.”
Alongside the video, Clinton wrote, “Curious to learn more about CECOT? Hear Juan, Andry, and Wilmer share firsthand how the Trump administration branded them as gang members without evidence and deported them to the brutal El Salvadoran prison.”
Curious to learn more about CECOT?
Hear Juan, Andry, and Wilmer share firsthand how the Trump administration branded them as gang members without evidence and deported them to the brutal El Salvadoran prison. https://t.co/M0axYtHxYm
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) December 22, 2025
The documentary focuses on three Venezuelan men — Juan José Ramos Ramos, Andry Blanco Bonilla, and Wilmer Vega Sandia — who were deported from the United States to CECOT.
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According to the film’s description, all three were identified by U.S. authorities as members of the Tren de Aragua gang, a designation they deny.
Bukele responded directly to Clinton’s claims, stating that El Salvador would cooperate if there were genuine concerns about torture or abuse inside the prison.
In a post on X, Bukele wrote, “We are willing to release our entire prison population (including all gang leaders and all those described as ‘political prisoners’) to any country willing to receive them. The only condition is straightforward: it must be everyone.”
He continued by suggesting that such a move would provide additional access for journalists and non-governmental organizations.
“This would also greatly assist journalists and your favorite NGOs, who would then have thousands of former inmates available for interviews, making it far easier to find additional voices critical of the Salvadoran government (or willing to confirm whatever conclusions are already expected),” Bukele wrote.
He added that if claims of systemic abuse are accurate, a larger pool of former inmates should reinforce those allegations and prompt other governments to offer protection.
Bukele concluded by stating that until such an offer is made, his government will continue prioritizing public safety.
He said El Salvador will remain focused on “the human rights of the millions of Salvadorans who today live free from gang rule.”
Madam Secretary Hillary Clinton,
If you are convinced that torture is taking place at CECOT, El Salvador is ready to cooperate fully.
We are willing to release our entire prison population (including all gang leaders and all those described as “political prisoners”) to any… https://t.co/GKHMUgeZeO
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) December 23, 2025
The dispute comes as Bukele has strengthened ties with Donald Trump, offering to house certain migrants deported from the United States at CECOT.
The Trump administration has deported Venezuelan migrants identified as gang members to El Salvador after Venezuela refused to accept their return.
Legal challenges surrounding the deportations are ongoing. On Monday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to provide due process to a class of Venezuelan migrants deported to El Salvador in March.
The court gave the administration two weeks to explain how it would meet that requirement, setting up another legal confrontation between the White House and the federal judiciary.
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