Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez has called on El Salvador’s government to end its silence over the detention of 252 Venezuelan migrants, who have been held without contact since March in a prison built to hold gang members. Deported from the United States under unproven accusations of belonging to the Tren de Aragua, they remain in total isolation, without access to lawyers or family.

RELATED:

Orban Exposes “Tip of the Iceberg” Corruption in Von der Leyen’s EU Commission

Speaking at San Francisco Church in San Salvador, Rosa Chávez demanded immediate information about the migrants, who were transferred to El Salvador by the Trump administration on March 15. The group was sent directly to the country’s mega-prison, designed to house thousands of suspected gang members.

Since then, the Bukele administration has provided no details about their identities, legal status, or physical condition. Visits by family members and lawyers have been blocked entirely.

“Certainly, anyone who is detained has the right to basic guarantees under international law — to be accounted for and to be known,” Rosa Chávez told reporters.

The Catholic Church had already voiced concern on April 20, when Archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas warned that El Salvador must not become “a giant international prison.”

This week, Rosa Chávez reinforced that message, stressing that “even the worst criminals have rights,” and demanded that families be informed of their relatives’ situation.

“We say this with full force because it is unjust that this remains unchanged,” he stated.

The cardinal also condemned the ongoing state of emergency, which has been in effect for over three years. The measure allows authorities to carry out arrests without warrants — a policy widely criticized by human rights groups. “It must end now,” he said.

In addition, Rosa Chávez denounced the forced exile of nearly 40 Salvadoran journalists, citing reports by the Association of Journalists of El Salvador (APES) pointing to intimidation and harassment.

“Fear has taken hold of the country,” he warned, highlighting the growing threats to press freedom.

“How do we overcome fear? How do we speak freely without becoming victims? That is the challenge,” he said. “But the world is seeing this more clearly every day. I believe that little by little, truth will prevail — because lies have short legs.”

IN THIS ARTICLE