A report by CBS News’ 60 Minutes cross-referenced domestic and international court filings alongside arrest records and news reports
The US has sent 238 migrants to the ‘world’s worst prison’ however, documents reveal most have no criminal record.
In January, shortly after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump swiftly moved to address what he called an “invasion” at the southern border, signing multiple executive orders aimed at the millions of migrants residing in the country.
One key order, titled Protecting the American People Against Invasion, accused the Biden administration of allowing “millions of illegal aliens” to flood the borders. Trump’s order portrayed these migrants as a threat to national security and public safety, alleging they were committing heinous crimes against Americans. The order went on to claim that some individuals were involved in espionage, economic sabotage, and preparing for terrorism-related activities.
In response, the Trump administration launched a bold crackdown, deporting over 200 individuals deemed “criminals” from Texas to the notorious El Salvador-based Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT), one of the most infamous prisons in the world. To justify the mass deportations, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a law historically used during World War II, declaring the U.S. was under attack by migrants linked to organized crime.
However, just as the deportations began, U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg intervened, issuing a temporary halt on the process. Despite the ruling, reports indicated that some deportation flights were already in motion.
Among those deported were 238 Venezuelan migrants, who were flown directly to CECOT, a maximum-security facility known for housing the most dangerous criminals, including gang members and mass murderers. But new revelations from CBS News’ 60 Minutes have cast doubt on the legitimacy of these deportations.
According to government documents obtained by the program, the names of the Venezuelan men deported last month have not been made public, but a cross-reference of court filings, arrest records, and news reports revealed a startling discovery. A staggering 179 of the men — nearly 75% — have no criminal records, either in the U.S. or abroad. The investigation found that only around 22% of the men on the list had any criminal history, and most of their offenses were minor, non-violent crimes such as trespassing or theft. Just a small portion — about 12 men — faced serious charges like murder, rape, assault, and kidnapping.
Of the remaining 3% of deportees, it’s unclear whether they have criminal records at all.
In response to the findings, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson argued that many of the deported individuals may not have formal criminal records but were still dangerous — allegedly linked to terrorism, human rights abuses, or organized crime. However, the absence of a criminal rap sheet in the U.S. seems to have complicated the justification for the mass deportation effort.
