El Salvador’s fight against gang violence escalates as over 2,000 gang members were transferred to the Center for the Containment of Terrorism (CECOT), the largest prison in the Americas, with a capacity of 40,000. President Nayib Bukele announced the transfer from Izalco, Ciudad Barrios, and San Vicente prisons. The new inmates were shown being transported with shaved heads and tattoos, handcuffed behind their backs.
Opened in 2023 in Tecoluca, CECOT consists of eight buildings with 32 cells each, and has been criticized by human rights groups.