Congressional Inquiry into US-Funded Detentions in El Salvador and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A formal congressional inquiry has been requested into the use of United States federal funds to finance the detention of immigrants at El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot). The request, initiated by Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, cites grave concerns over human rights abuses, which directly contravene multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). This report outlines the events leading to the inquiry and analyzes the situation through the framework of the SDGs.

Background of the Controversy

The second Trump administration utilized the Alien Enemies Act to transfer nearly 300 immigrants, primarily of Venezuelan and Salvadorian origin, to the Cecot facility in El Salvador. This action followed the designation of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization, a premise reportedly contradicted by intelligence agencies. The transfers proceeded despite a federal court order to halt the flights, creating a conflict between the executive and judicial branches.

• Use of Federal Funds: The core of the inquiry is the payment of US taxpayer funds to the Salvadoran government for the detention of these individuals.
• Allegations of Abuse: Released detainees have reported systemic abuse, including torture, beatings, denial of food, and sexual assault, constituting severe human rights violations.
• Lack of Transparency: The agreement between the US and El Salvador remains secret, with the administration invoking the “state secrets” privilege to prevent disclosure.

Violations of SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The reported events represent a significant failure to uphold the principles of SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions.

• Target 16.1 (Reduce Violence): Widespread accounts of torture, beatings, and other forms of physical abuse at Cecot are a direct violation of the goal to reduce all forms of violence.
• Target 16.3 (Promote Rule of Law): The administration’s actions demonstrate a disregard for the rule of law through the circumvention of a federal court order and the use of flimsy evidence for deportation, denying individuals equal access to justice.
• Target 16.6 (Effective, Accountable Institutions): The secrecy surrounding the US-El Salvador deal undermines the development of accountable and transparent institutions. The request for a congressional hearing is an attempt to enforce this accountability.

Contradictions with SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The policy of transferring immigrants to a third-country prison facility exacerbates inequalities and undermines international migration standards, in direct opposition to SDG 10.

• Target 10.3 (Ensure Equal Opportunity): The targeting of immigrants based on nationality and accusations founded on weak evidence, such as tattoos, represents a discriminatory practice that denies equal opportunity and due process.
• Target 10.7 (Safe and Responsible Migration): The described actions are antithetical to the goal of facilitating orderly, safe, and responsible migration. Instead, they have created a system fraught with danger, abuse, and legal ambiguity.

Chronology of Key Events

1. March 2025: The Trump administration designates Tren de Aragua a terrorist organization and begins using the Alien Enemies Act to expel Venezuelan immigrants.
2. Mid-March 2025: The first flights transport Venezuelan and Salvadorian immigrants to Cecot in El Salvador, defying a federal judge’s order.
3. July 18, 2025: A prisoner swap involving the US, El Salvador, and Venezuela leads to the release of 252 Venezuelan men from Cecot.
4. July 2025: Released detainees, including Andry Hernández Romero, begin speaking publicly about enduring “state-sanctioned torture” and sexual abuse inside the prison.
5. July 2025: Congresswoman Delia Ramirez formally requests a House homeland security committee hearing on the use of US funds and the associated human rights abuses.

Implications for Broader Sustainable Development

Beyond SDGs 16 and 10, this situation raises concerns related to other global goals.

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The reported physical torture and denial of food directly compromise the health and well-being of detainees.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): While the US-El Salvador deal is a form of bilateral partnership, its implementation through non-transparent means to facilitate human rights abuses undermines the spirit of creating partnerships that advance sustainable development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is central to the article, which focuses on the breakdown of justice, human rights violations, and the lack of accountable and transparent institutions. The text details allegations of “state-sanctioned torture,” the denial of due process for immigrants, and secret agreements between governments that bypass legal and ethical oversight. Congresswoman Delia Ramirez’s call for a hearing on “human rights abuses” and the use of taxpayer funds directly addresses the need for justice and institutional accountability.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article highlights policies and actions that increase inequality by targeting a specific, vulnerable population: immigrants, particularly those from Venezuela. These individuals are subjected to discriminatory treatment, being detained and deported based on “flimsy evidence” and their national origin. This contradicts the aim of reducing inequality and ensuring the protection of all people, regardless of their migration status.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article directly relates to this target by describing “horrific abuse, including beatings, torture, denial of food and, in one case, sexual assault.” A released detainee described the experience as “an encounter with torture and death,” highlighting the presence of severe violence.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The article provides multiple examples of the failure to uphold the rule of law. This includes the US administration ignoring a federal judge’s order to return the planes, deporting immigrants based on “flimsy evidence” without proper legal proceedings, and denying them access to a fair justice system.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The secrecy surrounding the deal between the US and El Salvador, with the US government invoking the “‘state secrets’ privilege,” points to a lack of transparency. Congresswoman Ramirez’s request for a hearing is a direct attempt to enforce accountability for the use of “US funds to enable these flagrant human rights abuses.”

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices. The policy of detaining individuals based on questionable evidence, such as the case of Andry Hernández Romero, whose “crown tattoos… were cited as evidence that he was a gang member,” is a clear example of a discriminatory practice leading to harmful and unequal outcomes.
   • Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies. The actions described in the article are the antithesis of this target. Instead of safe and orderly migration, people were “quietly filled planes… and quickly sent them to El Salvador to be detained in the Cecot prison,” where they faced torture and abuse. This represents a complete failure of responsible migration management.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 16:

   • Indicator for Target 16.1: The number of reported incidents of physical and psychological violence. The article provides qualitative evidence through testimonies of “beatings,” “fractured ribs, fractured fingers and toes,” and “sexual abuse.”
   • Indicator for Target 16.3: The number of individuals detained without due process. The article specifies that “nearly 300 immigrants” were sent to the prison under these conditions. Another indicator is the number of judicial orders ignored by the executive branch, as seen when “the flights arrived in El Salvador” despite a court order.
   • Indicator for Target 16.6: The existence of mechanisms for public accountability. The formal request for a “congressional hearing” by Representative Ramirez serves as an indicator of an attempt to enforce institutional accountability. Conversely, the government’s use of the “‘state secrets’ privilege” is an indicator of a lack of transparency.

2. For SDG 10:

   • Indicator for Target 10.3: The number of individuals subjected to discriminatory profiling. The case of the makeup artist deported for his tattoos is a specific, documented instance that serves as an indicator of discriminatory practices in policy enforcement.
   • Indicator for Target 10.7: The number of migrants subjected to human rights violations during detention. The article states that “nearly 300 immigrants” were sent to the facility where they faced “state-sanctioned torture,” serving as a direct measure of the failure to ensure safe migration.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theguardian.com