Verify You Are Human 🤖

Welcome

Forgot Password?

Don't have an account yet? Register here

Metro.co.uk

@metrocouk10

Yesterday

Read Original Article

’60 Minutes’ report on El Salvador prison axed in ‘political’ choice

Up Next

Coverage of a controversial prison in El Salvador where Donald Trump has deported immigrants to was axed in what a reporter is calling ‘political reasons’.

Sharyn Alfonsi was covering El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Centre, known as CECOT, and spoke with prisoners who had been taken there after being deported from the United States.

The ’60 Minutes’ journalist said that despite the story being legally checked and okayed by CBS’s standards division, news chief Bari Weiss pulled the segment just hours before it was meant to air.

The investigation, which has been leaked online since, looked into abuse at CECOT of prisoners, with one inmate telling CBS the prison had widspread torture, beatings and sexual abuse.

In an email to colleauges at CBS, Alfonsi wrote: ‘Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices.

‘It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it now, after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.

‘If the administration’s refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a ‘kill switch’ for any reporting they find inconvenient.’

TECOLUCA, EL SALVADOR - DECEMBER 15: A prison guard stands outside a cell at CECOT (Counter Terrorism Confinement Center) on December 15, 2025 in Tecoluca, El Salvador. CECOT gained notoriety in 2025 when the Trump administration began its controversial policy of deporting people to El Salvador who they claimed were members of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren De Aragua, and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a gang whose members are historically Salvadoran. In 2023 El Salvador opened Latin America's largest prison as part of President Nayib Bukele's plan to fight gangs. The government says some 20,000 gang members are being held at the mega-prison, which has a capacity of 40,000. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) — The sprawling prison can hold tens of thousands (Picture: Getty)

(FILES) Bari Weiss, Editor, Common Sense, speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference on May 3, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. The leadership of CBS News was facing accusations of political meddling on December 22 over a last-minute decision to not air a report on the notorious Salvadoran prison where US President Donald Trump has sent deported migrants. CBS had been due to air the investigation late Sunday about alleged abuses at the CECOT center in El Salvador on its flagship — Bari Weiss reportedly axed the programme hours before it was meant to air (Picture: Getty)

TECOLUCA, EL SALVADOR - DECEMBER 15: Inmates remove their shirts after guards instructed them to display gang-affiliated tattoos at CECOT (Counter Terrorism Confinement Center) on December 15, 2025 in Tecoluca, El Salvador. CECOT gained notoriety in 2025 when the Trump administration began its controversial policy of deporting people to El Salvador who they claimed were members of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren De Aragua, and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a gang whose members are historically Salvadoran. In 2023 El Salvador opened Latin America's largest prison as part of President Nayib Bukele's plan to fight gangs. The government says some 20,000 gang members are being held at the mega-prison, which has a capacity of 40,000. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) — CECOT has widespread allegations of torture and mistreatment (Picture: Getty)

In a statement, CBS said that the segment needed ‘additional reporting’ and claimed it will air in the future.

Weiss, the head of CBS News, defended her decision and said the story did not ‘advance the ball’.

She added that she wanted the reporters to make a ‘greater effort’ to get the Trump Administration’s point of view, despite the reporters saying they reached out multiple times and received no response.

Trump has already deported alleged members of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua to El Salvador’s mega-prison.

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele previously offered to incarcerate them at CECOT, and earlier this year, Trump reinvoked the Alien Enemies Act, which was last used to intern 120,000 people of Japanese heritage, along with tens of thousands of Germans and Italians, during World War Two.

Trump accused Tren de Aragua of flooding the USA with drugs and ‘mass illegal migration’ to destabilise US democracy at the behest of the Nicolas Maduro government in Venezuela.

What is CECOT?

EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / (FILES) This handout picture released on March 31, 2025, by El Salvador's Presidency press office shows alleged members of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua and from the Salvadoran gang MS-13 being subdued upon their arrival at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in the city of Tecoluca, El Salvador. A small group of overstretched and outmatched lawyers are fighting for the rights of US deportees held at a notorious Salvadoran jail -- a David vs Goliath battle that may yet end up in international courts. (Photo by Handout / EL SALVADOR'S PRESIDENCY PRESS OFFICE / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT — Those taken to the prison will never see daylight again (Picture: AFP)

Bukele ordered the construction of ‘Latin America’s biggest prison’ as he launched his purge against El Salvador’s gangs – including the dreaded MS-13 and Barrio 18 – in early 2022.

It opened a year later in the town of Tecoluca, around 45 miles east of the capital San Salvador.

Able to hold 40,000 inmates – nearly half the entire UK prison population – the CECOT is made up of eight sprawling pavilions.

Its cells hold 65 to 70 prisoners each. None receive visits. There are no programs preparing them to return to society after their sentences, no workshops or educational programs. They will never see daylight again.

Prisoners sit in rows in the corridor outside their cells for the talks or are led through exercise regimens under the supervision of guards.

Bukele’s justice minister has said that those held would never return to their communities.

What do human rights advocates say?

Cristosal reported last summer that at least 261 people had died in El Salvador’s prisons during the gang crackdown.

The group and others have cited cases of abuse, torture and lack of medical attention.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

React

0

Comment

0

Bool Ads Monetization Program

Advertiser Dave has an offer for you

Your attention is valuable!

Earn 25 CluueCoins Mini

Visit validated! Upload your proof now

Loading comments...

Send Gift Points

Editor's Pick

From Our Blog

USA Permanent Residency Visa for Immigrants (2025)

USA Permanent Residency Visa for Immigrants (2025)

We explored what the U.S. Green Card is, its benefits, and the major visa categories available in 2025. Now, let’s dive deeper into temporary visas, eligibility requirements, application steps, costs, processing times, and the final pathway to U.S. citizenship.

Temporary Visas That Lead to Permanent Residency
Not every immigrant begins with a Green Card. Many first arrive on temporary work or study visas and later transition to permanent residency.
Here are some of the key temporary visa categories in 2025:

Work Visas

H-1B Visa – Specialty Occupations
For professionals in IT, engineering, medicine, and finance. Valid up to 3 years, renewable to 6.
H-2A Visa – Agricultural Workers
For seasonal farmworkers. Employers must prove a shortage of U.S. labor.
H-2B Visa – Non-Agricultural Workers
For industries like hospitality, construction, and landscaping. Usually valid for 1 year.
H-3 Visa – Trainee Visa
For individuals seeking professional training not available in their home country.
L-1 Visa – Intra-Company Transfers
For executives and managers relocating to a U.S. branch of their multinational company.
O-1 Visa – Extraordinary Ability
For professionals with exceptional skills in arts, sciences, athletics, or business.
P Visa – Performers & Athletes
For athletes, artists, and entertainers participating in U.S. events.
Q-1 Visa – Cultural Exchange
For individuals entering through approved cultural exchange programs.

Visitor Visas

B-1 Business Visa – For business meetings, training, and contract negotiations.
B-2 Tourist Visa – For leisure travel, family visits, or medical treatment.
B-1/B-2 Combination – Covers both business and tourism. Valid up to 10 years (for certain nationalities).

General Requirements for U.S. Permanent Residency (2025)

Although each Green Card category has unique requirements, applicants typically need to meet the following:

Valid passport & identity documents
Completed medical exams & vaccinations
Proof of financial stability
Clean criminal record
Relationship proof (for family-based visas)
English proficiency (recommended but not mandatory)

Application Process: Step by Step

Determine Eligibility – Select the right visa category (family, employment, lottery, or investment).
File a Petition
- Family: U.S. citizen or Green Card holder files Form I-130.
- Employment: Employer files Form I-140.
- Investment: Investor files Form I-526.
Wait for Visa Availability – Check the Visa Bulletin for priority dates.
Adjustment of Status / Consular Processing –
- Inside U.S.: File Form I-485.
- Outside U.S.: Attend interview at U.S. consulate/embassy.
Biometrics & Interview – Provide fingerprints, photos, and attend an interview.
Approval & Issuance – Receive your Green Card.

Costs of Applying for a Green Card in 2025

Application Type Fee (USD)

Form I-130 (Family): $535
Form I-140 (Employment): $700
Form I-526 (Investor): $3,675
Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) | $1,225 (incl. biometrics)
Consular Processing (DS-260): $325
USCIS Immigrant Fee: $220
Biometrics: $85
Medical Exam: $200 – $500
EB-5 Investment Requirement: $800,000+
Attorney Fees (Optional) : $2,000 – $10,000+

Processing Times

Family-Sponsored Visa: 1–10 years
Employment-Based Visa: 6 months – 2 years
Diversity Visa Lottery: 1–2 years
EB-5 Investor Visa: 2–3 years

Path to U.S. Citizenship
After becoming a permanent resident, Green Card holders can apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization after:

5 years of continuous residence, OR
3 years if married to a U.S. citizen.

Applicants must pass:

A civics test
An English proficiency test
A good moral character review

Challenges in 2025
While the U.S. Green Card offers immense opportunities, applicants often face:

Long waiting times
High application costs
Strict background checks
Limited visa quotas

Still, with proper planning and guidance, achieving permanent residency is possible.

Conclusion
The USA Permanent Residency Visa (Green Card) remains one of the most valuable immigration opportunities in the world. In 2025, immigrants have multiple pathways, family sponsorship, employment visas, the Diversity Lottery, and investment programs.
With patience, preparation, and compliance with U.S. immigration laws, the dream of becoming a permanent U.S. resident, and eventually a U.S. citizen is closer than ever.

Blog ArticleRead more →