Archive · 19 Jan 2026
CBS airs shelved 60 Minutes report on Salvadoran prison
CBS News has finally shown a report on Sunday night that they had put on hold last month.
This report is about a big prison in El Salvador called CECOT, where the U.S. sent many people from Venezuela.
Some of these people say the prison is very harsh and they were treated badly.
The report was supposed to come out earlier but needed more work and to include statements from the Trump administration.
Now, it's ready to be shown, and it includes stories from people who were in the prison and got out.
CBS says they always planned to show this report when it was ready.
There was some disagreement inside CBS about when to show the report, but now it's been shown to everyone.
CBS News aired a previously shelved 60 Minutes report on Sunday night about CECOT, a mega-prison in El Salvador housing deported Venezuelan migrants.
The report was postponed in December for additional reporting and to include statements from the Trump administration, and is now ready for broadcast.
CECOT has been criticized by human rights groups for its harsh conditions, with deportees describing the conditions as 'brutal and torturous'.
The segment includes interviews with Venezuelan men who describe the conditions as 'brutal and torturous' and raises questions about the U.S. government's characterization of the deportees as terrorists.
The broadcast followed an internal dispute at CBS News over the timing of the report, with correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi alleging political interference in the initial postponement.
- Who
- CBS News, Sharyn Alfonsi, Venezuelan migrants, Trump administration
- What
- Broadcast of a previously shelved 60 Minutes report on CECOT prison
- When
- Sunday night
- Where
- El Salvador (CECOT prison), U.S. (broadcast)
- Why
- The report was initially postponed for additional reporting and to include administration statements, and now it is ready for broadcast.
- Prison Name
- CECOT
- Country
- El Salvador
- Migrants
- Mostly Venezuelan
- Deportation Period
- During Trump Administration
- Broadcast Date
- Sunday Night
- Correspondent
- Sharyn Alfonsi
- Network
- CBS News
- Original Postponement Reason
- Additional Reporting Needed
- Internal Dispute
- Editorial vs. Political Decision
- Administration Response
- Provided Statements, No On-Camera Interviews
Sources
CBS News to air previously pulled 60 Minutes report
’60 Minutes’ Airs Delayed ‘Inside CECOT’ Story: Trump Officials Still “Declined Our Requests” For Interviews, Correspondent Says
’60 Minutes’ airs report on Trump deportations that was suddenly pulled a month ago
