Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Thursday rejected allegations that Kilmar Abrego Garcia was tortured or mistreated while detained in El Salvador, calling the claims baseless and politically motivated.
In a post on X, Bukele blamed “mainstream media” outlets and what he described as a “crumbling Western judiciary” for spreading what he said were unverified claims.
“The man wasn’t tortured, nor did he lose weight,” Bukele wrote. “In fact, photos show he gained weight while in custody. There’s plenty of footage — even from his meeting with Senator Van Hollen, who confirmed he looked fine.”
Bukele went on to question the physical abuse claims directly. “If he’d been tortured, starved, and sleep-deprived, why does he look so healthy in every photo? Why are there no bruises, no dark circles? Why did he gain weight?”
The president attached video clips and photos showing Abrego Garcia in his prison cell, including images reportedly taken during a visit with Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. The visuals appear to show Abrego Garcia in clean clothing and decent condition, though no footage from early in his detention was included.
Abrego Garcia — who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March during President Trump’s expanded immigration crackdown — has since returned to the U.S. to face unrelated federal charges. But before his return, court filings revealed he had described “psychological torture” and physical abuse at El Salvador’s notorious CECOT mega-prison, where he was held.
In sworn testimony, Abrego Garcia said he was deprived of sleep, beaten by guards, and forced to use unsanitary facilities in overcrowded, sweltering conditions with no ventilation, mattresses, or privacy. He claimed guards kicked him and hit him with batons during intake and shaved his head with a dull razor.
CECOT, built under Bukele’s tough-on-crime agenda, has drawn widespread criticism from international human rights groups for its harsh conditions, though the Salvadoran government has defended it as necessary to combat gang violence.
Abrego Garcia’s deportation became a flashpoint earlier this year when the Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to bring him back to the U.S., citing procedural errors and concerns for his safety. The White House had previously alleged, without offering public evidence, that Garcia had ties to MS-13 — a charge his lawyers strongly deny.
Since returning to the U.S., Garcia has pleaded not guilty to a federal indictment stemming from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee. He is accused of facilitating undocumented immigration more than 100 times, along with conspiracy charges.
Prosecutors initially sought to deport Garcia again if he was released from custody, prompting his attorneys to request he remain jailed in Tennessee while awaiting trial. A judge granted that request.
