HRW Reports Forced Disappearance of 238 Venezuelan Migrants: U.S. and El Salvador Under Scrutiny

Image depicting a group of Venezuelan families of the migrants. Apr 11, 2025 Photo: @hrw

April 11, 2025 Hour: 6:41 pm

Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports the forced disappearance of 238 Venezuelan migrants linked to coordinated actions between the U.S. and El Salvador, raising concerns over human rights violations and lack of government response. Families demand clarity and justice amid international calls for action.

The non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported the forced disappearance of 238 Venezuelan migrants, an incident it links to coordinated actions between the governments of the United States and El Salvador.

In a statement issued this Friday, HRW emphasized the lack of response from the Salvadoran government to a formal request for information regarding the detainees, which intensifies the anguish of affected families who remain uncertain about the whereabouts of their loved ones.

Juanita Goebertus, director of HRW’s Americas Division, described these actions as “a grave violation of international human rights law.” Goebertus highlighted that both U.S. and Salvadoran authorities have shown a concerning indifference to the situation, exacerbating the suffering of the migrants’ families.

The governments of the United States and El Salvador have subjected more than 200 Venezuelan nationals to enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention.

These enforced disappearances are a grave violation of international human rights law.https://t.co/rqhoJ7uOlK pic.twitter.com/5ihurjavnR
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) April 11, 2025

Since March 15, the migrants have been held at the Center for Terrorism Confinement (Cecot), known for its harsh prison conditions. HRW reported that these migrants were sent to El Salvador without prior notice, despite U.S. officials assuring their families that they would be returned to Venezuela.

In a letter dated April 5, HRW requested information from the Salvadoran government regarding the identity of the detained migrants, the legal framework justifying their detention, and their current status at Cecot. So far, this request has gone unanswered, raising international concerns about the transparency and legality of the process.

Families continue to demand clarity and justice as international organizations intensify their calls to address what they consider an act incompatible with fundamental human rights principles. This case underscores the urgent need to protect vulnerable migrants in an increasingly complicated global context.