Senator Ted Cruz Touts El Salvador's 98% Murder Rate Reduction After CECOT Prison Tour

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) recently toured El Salvador's notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison, a facility designed to house 40,000 gang members. The visit, which took place earlier this week, aimed to observe firsthand the country's stringent security measures that El Salvador attributes to a dramatic reduction in its homicide rate. Senator Cruz described the experience as "astonishing" in a social media post.

CECOT, opened in early 2023, is a maximum-security prison built as a cornerstone of President Nayib Bukele's "War Against Gangs." The facility is specifically designed to hold members of violent groups such as MS-13 and Barrio 18. Conditions inside are notably harsh, with inmates reportedly confined to cells for 23 hours a day, under constant surveillance, and without access to cell phones due to signal jammers.

El Salvador's government credits its aggressive anti-gang strategy, including the construction and operation of CECOT, with reducing the nation's murder rate by an estimated 98%. This significant drop has transformed the country from one of the world's most violent to one of the safest, according to Salvadoran officials. Senator Cruz echoed this sentiment, highlighting the "extraordinary" success in reducing crime.

During his visit, Senator Cruz noted the stark contrast between CECOT and prisons in the United States, emphasizing the Salvadoran facility's more controlled and severe environment. He also revealed that he interviewed an MS-13 member from Texas incarcerated at CECOT, who admitted to murder in El Salvador and hinted at crimes committed in the U.S.

Despite the lauded crime reduction, CECOT and El Salvador's broader security crackdown have drawn criticism from human rights organizations. Concerns include allegations of overcrowding, lack of due process, and inhumane conditions, with some groups reporting deaths in custody and arbitrary detentions. The Salvadoran government, however, maintains that its measures are necessary and effective in ensuring public safety.