The controversy surrounding CBS News’ postponement of a critical “60 Minutes” report on deportees to a notorious Salvadoran prison intensified this week, as the complete segment surfaced online after being aired in Canada. The report, entitled “Inside CECOT,” was available on a streaming platform operated by Canada’s Global Television Network, even as CBS opted to delay its broadcast in the United States under the direction of new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.
The segment offered harrowing testimonies from individuals deported from the U.S. to the Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT) during the Trump administration, revealing allegations of torture, physical, and sexual abuse at the facility. Luis Munoz Pinto, a Venezuelan college student who sought asylum in the U.S., shared his shocking experience upon arrival at CECOT. He recounted the director’s ominous statement that they would “never see the light of day or night again.”
The report also featured historical footage of President Donald Trump praising El Salvador’s prisons as “great facilities” during a meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, denoting the U.S. government’s controversial sends of deportees to such institutions. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also appeared in the segment commending the partnership between the U.S. and El Salvador for incarcerating individuals deemed “terrorists.”
Both CBS and Global Television Network have not publicly clarified why the segment aired in Canada but not in the U.S. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, behind the report, criticized the decision to postpone the piece in a note to her colleagues, suggesting it stemmed from political motivations after the Trump administration declined to comment. She emphasized that the report had successfully survived multiple screenings through CBS’ rigorous internal checks, asserting that the decision to halt its release was politically driven rather than editorially justified.
Critics, including PEN America and FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, have condemned this move, arguing it undermines journalistic integrity and independent news practices. They highlighted that the necessity for government commentary should not dictate the readiness of a story that exposes significant human rights violations.
In response to the situation, Weiss explained that withholding stories for necessary context or critical input is commonplace in journalism, suggesting that the report will air when it is deemed fully ready. She noted during an internal call that while the testimonies in the segment were striking, they did not significantly advance the story given previous reporting by outlets like The Times.
The backdrop to this situation is President Trump’s administration’s aggressive deportation policies, with thousands sent to El Salvador citing the infrequently utilized Alien Enemies Act. Among the deportees mentioned in the report were individuals like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to CECOT despite legal protections. Remarkably, the segment also spoke of the 252 Venezuelan deportees released in July following the release of ten Americans held in Venezuela.
This unfolding narrative highlights the complex interplay of media, politics, and human rights, prompting discussions on the responsibilities of news organizations in handling sensitive reports, especially those reflecting on government actions and policies. The commitment to principles of free speech and independent journalism remains critical as this story develops.