Director Reveals Why Lights Are Never Switched Off in the ‘World’s Most Dangerous Prison’

At the center of El Salvador’s aggressive crackdown on gang violence stands the Terrorism Confinement Center, better known as CECOT, a maximum-security prison designed to hold up to 40,000 inmates. Built as a cornerstone of the government’s anti-gang strategy, the facility has become both a symbol of restored public security and a source of international debate over prison conditions and human rights.

Life inside CECOT is intentionally austere. Inmates sleep on metal bunks without mattresses, eat basic meals, and have no access to televisions, books, or personal electronic devices. Communication with the outside world is virtually nonexistent, while extensive security measures are designed to prevent any contact with criminal networks beyond the prison walls.

According to prison director Belarmino García, one of the facility’s most striking features—the decision to keep lights on around the clock—is a deliberate security measure. Continuous illumination allows guards to maintain constant surveillance and reduces opportunities for violence, concealment, or escape attempts. The policy ensures that every area of the prison remains visible at all times.

Daily life follows a strict and highly controlled routine. Inmates spend most of their time confined to their cells, with movement, exercise, and other activities tightly regulated. Authorities argue that these measures are necessary to maintain order and prevent gang leaders from continuing to direct criminal operations from behind bars.

Supporters of the prison point to El Salvador’s dramatic decline in gang-related violence as evidence that the government’s approach has been effective. Critics, however, question whether such extreme conditions come at too high a human cost, raising concerns about the long-term impact of prolonged isolation, constant surveillance, and the absence of basic freedoms.

As CECOT continues to draw attention from around the world, it remains a powerful symbol of the difficult balance between public security and human rights—a debate that extends far beyond the prison’s heavily fortified walls.