Inside El Salvador's CECOT Prison for MS-13 Gang Members, plus Stopping China from Having Control of the Panama Canal
Aug 29, 2025
Explore the stark realities inside El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison, designed to contain the infamous MS-13 gang members. Discover how the prison's strict conditions and mass incarceration have drastically reduced the nation's homicide rate. Hear a captivating interview with a remorseful inmate reflecting on gang life and the hope for a better future for his child. Shift to the strategic importance of the Panama Canal, where concerns about increasing Chinese influence raise alarms for U.S. security and commerce.
33:06
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Inside CECOT's High-Security Entry
Ted Cruz toured the CECOT megaprison built to hold up to 40,000 of El Salvador's most dangerous gang members.
He observed strict anti-phone measures, including jammers and massive fines for carriers to prevent any calls from the facility.
insights INSIGHT
Mass Incarceration And Falling Homicides
El Salvador built the prison aiming to incapacitate an estimated 40,000 gang members and currently houses about 20,000.
The government credits mass incarceration and zero-tolerance policy with a ~98% drop in the homicide rate.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Block Prison Phone Networks
Consider stronger measures to block cellphones in U.S. prisons to limit gangs' outside coordination.
Increase penalties for contraband phones to deter carriers and inside collaborators from enabling communications.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
1. El Salvador’s CECOT Mega-Prison for Gang Members
Senator Cruz describes his recent visit to El Salvador, where he toured the CECOT (Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo) prison.
The prison was built to house up to 40,000 of the country’s most dangerous gang members (MS-13, Barrio 18).
Conditions:
Cells hold 100 prisoners each, with bunk beds stacked four levels high.
Prisoners are locked in cells 23 hours a day, with 1 hour allowed for exercise and religious instruction (both mandatory).
No cellphones—blocked with jammers, with heavy fines for carriers if a call gets through.
Monitored constantly by guards with machine guns and 24/7 lighting.
Cruz compares it to U.S. prisons, noting it is much harsher and more controlled. He highlights the dramatic drop in El Salvador’s homicide rate (down ~98%), attributing it to President Bukele’s crackdown and mass incarceration of gang members.
He even interviews an MS-13 member from Texas who admitted to murder in El Salvador and hinted at crimes in the U.S. The inmate expressed regret about his son possibly joining a gang but acknowledged that El Salvador’s new security situation made that less likely.
2. Panama Canal and Chinese Influence
Cruz also traveled to Panama, where he toured the Panama Canal and met with government officials.
He emphasizes Panama’s strategic importance to U.S. national security and commerce.
Concerns raised:
Chinese companies control key infrastructure near the canal, including ports, a bridge under construction, and a metro tunnel project.
Cruz warns this could give China leverage to disrupt U.S. military and commercial shipping if conflict arises (e.g., over Taiwan).
He pressed Panamanian officials to remove Chinese control and noted ongoing negotiations to transfer two Chinese-run ports to a U.S. consortium.
He frames this as a matter of U.S.–Panama shared interest: Panama also risks economic and security harm if China can choke canal operations.
Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening
Verdict with Ted Cruz