Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised serious allegations against the Salvadoran government regarding the forced disappearance of at least 11 Salvadorans who were deported from the United States. According to HRW, these individuals were sent back to El Salvador in March and October of 2025 and have since been unaccounted for, with no official information about their current status. As part of their deportation, some of these Salvadorans were reportedly placed on the same flights as over 250 Venezuelan migrants who had been expelled under suspicious circumstances, accused of gang affiliations without solid evidence.

The situation reflects broader concerns about human rights practices in El Salvador, particularly under the administration's policies that often associate deportees with criminal activity. HRW emphasizes that regardless of any previous criminal records, these deported individuals are entitled to legal rights, including the right to a fair trial and the right for families to know their whereabouts. This issue raises significant concerns about accountability and the treatment of deported individuals within the context of El Salvador's recent crackdown on gangs and crime.

The forced disappearance of these Salvadorans highlights the ongoing challenges faced by returned migrants in El Salvador amidst a deteriorating human rights landscape. The international community, particularly human rights organizations, is likely to monitor the situation closely, and this case could further strain relationships between the U.S. and El Salvador, especially in the wake of ongoing debates around immigration policy and human rights enforcement in the region.