cover of episode The autocrat's prison

The autocrat's prison

2025/3/19
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Today, Explained

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#social issues#political and social commentary#criminal justice#law enforcement and public safety#political commentary#political investigations#historical political intrigue#political discourse Chapters
Explores the US government's actions under the Trump administration to deport alleged gang members to El Salvador, despite legal challenges and lack of evidence.
  • The Trump administration deported nearly 200 men to El Salvador, claiming they are gang members.
  • Federal judge demanded details about the deportations but was defied.
  • Many deportees lack criminal records in the U.S.

Shownotes Transcript

The US is deporting alleged members of the gang Trén de Aragua and paying El Salvador to house them in a mega-prison. But we don’t know if the deportees are actually gang members at all.

This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy and Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King.

Further reading: Inside El Salvador's notorious CECOT mega-prison. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast

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More than 250 suspected gang members deported from the U.S. arriving in El Salvador's mega-prison. Photo by El Salvador Presidency / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images.

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