Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social: Those held at CECOT were forced to sleep on cold metal benches (mattresses were brought in for photo ops) and given a single water bucket for washing and drinking. If anyone was seen washing themselves not at 4:00 AM, they were taken into a cell, tied to a chair, and beaten. Quoted article: At CECOT, the detainees said, Venezuelans were held in cells of nine to 15 people with metal benches for beds — thin mattresses were brought in for photographs and then taken away - and water buckets for drinking and bathing. "It looked like a cage," González said. On the first day, Blanco vomited and had no way to clean his shirt for several days, he said. Eventually the detainees said they were given soap and toothpaste, but not regularly. It was uncomfortably hot during the day, González said, and frigid at night. The cells reeked of urine and sewage, Blanco said. The detainees were awakened at 4 a.m. and given time to wash themselves, González said. If they were seen cleaning themselves with the bucket outside of showering hours, he said, they were taken to a dark cell for punishments, where they would be shackled to a chair and hit with a stick. Blanco recalled hearing the screams from down the hallway.

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