Venezuelans in the El Salvador prison plead for freedom in the video | The mighty 790 kfgo

By Kristina Cooke and Ted Hesson

(Reuters) Venezoleer, who were kept in a high-security prison in El Salvador, called “Freedom” and used a hand signal for help in a video published by the right-wing extremic news Network, a rare view of the prisoners since they were sent there in March.

Matt Gaetz, a former US legislature and ally of President Donald Trump, toured with the conservative news agency and the Republican representative Anna Paulina Luna. As part of the tour on May 9, they visited the wing of the prison with the deported Venezuelans, who claims the Trump government, members of the gang tren de Aragua, said Oann.

Video recordings showed dozens of men who were pressed against cellbangs who were dressed in white shirts and shirts or without a shirt. The men shouted when the tour went through, but it could be heard to be freed and say “Venezuela”.

The US Ministry of Homeland protection did not comment on the video material, and the White House did not immediately answer a request for comments.

The cells in El Salvador's “Terrorism Concess Center” (CECOT) included the high -towering stacks of floor beds in a different part of the prison, which was usually seen in media tours. One of the cells in the Venezuelan wing houses had a towel with a cross that was draped over the rods.

Trump referred to the law on Alien Enemies from 1798 on March 15 to quickly deport the alleged members of the Venezuelan gangs. While Trump's proclamation was later blocked that day, two planes with Venezuelans continue to El Salvador after the little used war law.

Family members, many of whom contest the gangs' allegations, could not communicate with the men who have no access to telephones, lawyers or rights to contest their detention.

On Tuesday they drove through the film material and searched for their loved ones. Reuters spoke to a dozen people who said they recognized their family members.

Reuters could not independently check whether the men who recognized the family members were in prison. The United States has not published a list of the names of the deportees.

Angie Rios, a US citizen, discovered her husband Jesus Rios (22) in the video and asked the camera to advocate freedom in English and Spanish. She felt a mixture of feelings, she said: “Confused, desperate, angry, hopeful, frustrated.” After seeing the video, she was hardly able to get out of bed, she said.

Maria Alejandra Falcon recognized her son, 25-year-old Yolfran Escobar, and hugged the bars of his cell. “Since I saw it, I haven't stopped crying and thinking about what I can do to help my son?” she said. “It is such a great pain that it feels like they are tearing out my soul.”

Paola Moreno, the sister of Maikel Moreno, 20, said she feels helpless to see her brother in the cells. “He is not a criminal, he didn't deserve it,” she said.

In a post on X, Gaetz emphasized the allegations that the men were gang members.

“These are the Tren de Aragua boys who want Democrats back in America,” said Gaetz in a post who accompanied a video clip.

Trump nominated Gaetz to act as a lawyer at the end of 2024 before taking office, but Gaetz retired in view of the steep opposition of the Senate about his previous behavior. He is now organizing a talk show in Oann.

Kristi Noem, Secretary of the US Homeland Security, attended the prison with Pool reporters at the end of March and later shared a video on social media with prisoners in the background, which warned of the consequences of the consequences of the agreement in the USA without legal immigration status.

(Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington, DC and Kristina Cooke in San Francisco; Editor of Sonali Paul)