American Photography 42 Winners

The Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) -- a mega-prison that houses inmates of El Salvador's three major gangs, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Barrio 18 Revolucionarios and Barrio 18 Sureños-- is the largest prison in the Western Hemisphere as part of President Nayib Bukele war on gangs. This is a rare look at the inside of the prison that has become the eye of the media storm since President Trump’s administration deported more than 200 Venezuelan citizens, accused of being part of the Tren De Aragua criminal organization, there this spring. Since in March 2022, when the country's gangs launched a three-day murder spree, El Salvador has incarcerated about 2% of the country’s population under an ongoing "State of Exception." President Bukele has been praised for the pacification but also widely-criticized for the suspension of civil liberties that accompanied the crackdown and reports of related abuses. his is the life of the gang members who used to terrorize the Salvadoran society.

The Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) -- a mega-prison that houses inmates of El Salvador's three major gangs, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Barrio 18 Revolucionarios and Barrio 18 Sureños-- is the largest prison in the Western Hemisphere as part of President Nayib Bukele war on gangs. This is a rare look at the inside of the prison that has become the eye of the media storm since President Trump’s administration deported more than 200 Venezuelan citizens, accused of being part of the Tren De Aragua criminal organization, there this spring. Since in March 2022, when the country's gangs launched a three-day murder spree, El Salvador has incarcerated about 2% of the country’s population under an ongoing "State of Exception." President Bukele has been praised for the pacification but also widely-criticized for the suspension of civil liberties that accompanied the crackdown and reports of related abuses. his is the life of the gang members who used to terrorize the Salvadoran society.

The Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) -- a mega-prison that houses inmates of El Salvador's three major gangs, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Barrio 18 Revolucionarios and Barrio 18 Sureños-- is the largest prison in the Western Hemisphere as part of President Nayib Bukele war on gangs. This is a rare look at the inside of the prison that has become the eye of the media storm since President Trump’s administration deported more than 200 Venezuelan citizens, accused of being part of the Tren De Aragua criminal organization, there this spring. Since in March 2022, when the country's gangs launched a three-day murder spree, El Salvador has incarcerated about 2% of the country’s population under an ongoing "State of Exception." President Bukele has been praised for the pacification but also widely-criticized for the suspension of civil liberties that accompanied the crackdown and reports of related abuses. his is the life of the gang members who used to terrorize the Salvadoran society.

The Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) -- a mega-prison that houses inmates of El Salvador's three major gangs, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Barrio 18 Revolucionarios and Barrio 18 Sureños-- is the largest prison in the Western Hemisphere as part of President Nayib Bukele war on gangs. This is a rare look at the inside of the prison that has become the eye of the media storm since President Trump’s administration deported more than 200 Venezuelan citizens, accused of being part of the Tren De Aragua criminal organization, there this spring. Since in March 2022, when the country's gangs launched a three-day murder spree, El Salvador has incarcerated about 2% of the country’s population under an ongoing "State of Exception." President Bukele has been praised for the pacification but also widely-criticized for the suspension of civil liberties that accompanied the crackdown and reports of related abuses. his is the life of the gang members who used to terrorize the Salvadoran society.