Trump Sent Them to a Notorious Prison. Torture Followed.

The episode opens with host Michael Barbaro introducing Julie Turkowitz's investigation into the Venezuelan men sent to an El Salvador prison. These men disappeared after their highly publicized deportation in March, with families unable to reach them and lawyers blocked from access. The Trump administration refused to provide basic information about the detainees, maintaining only that they were 'the worst of the worst' terrorists, though no evidence was ever provided to support these claims.

• 250 Venezuelan men were deported to a maximum security prison in El Salvador in March, accused of being terrorists without trials
• The deportation created indelible images of men shackled, bent at the waist, shaved, and processed into the prison
• After deportation, the men disappeared with no access to lawyers or family members
• Trump administration refused to release names or criminal history information about the detainees
• In July, the men were released and sent to Venezuela, finally allowing journalists to investigate what happened inside

After the men's release in July, Turkowitz and a team of Venezuelan journalists began systematic documentation of what occurred inside the prison. They interviewed 40 men, photographed injuries, collected medical reports, and cross-referenced testimonies to build a comprehensive picture. To verify the harrowing accounts, they enlisted forensic experts to audit their findings, who concluded the testimony was credible and much of the abuse met the UN definition of torture.

• Journalists interviewed 40 of the 250 men, documenting reunions, injuries, and collecting medical reports
• Reporting team included three Venezuelan reporters, a photographer, and Turkowitz conducting methodical interviews
• Stories were cross-referenced and follow-up interviews confirmed timelines and facts
• Forensic experts audited the reporting and confirmed testimony was credible and consistent with UN definition of torture