In a groundbreaking agreement, El Salvador has agreed to house violent criminals from the United States, including US citizens, and deportees from any country. This unexpected deal was revealed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio after meeting with President Nayib Bukele, sending shockwaves through both nations.
What the deal means
Rubio praised the deal as “extraordinary” and “unprecedented,” stating that El Salvador would accept not only Salvadoran deportees but also any criminal, regardless of nationality. This includes dangerous gang members like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. In a shocking twist, Bukele also offered to house American criminals in El Salvador’s mega-prison, CECOT, in exchange for a fee.
“We’re willing to take convicted criminals, including US citizens, into our mega-prison,” Bukele confirmed on social media. CECOT is a massive facility with space for up to 40,000 prisoners, and the money would help sustain El Salvador’s prison system.
A dangerous and costly arrangement?
This bold move comes with legal complications. Under US law, deporting American citizens is illegal. Law professor Leti Volpp from UC Berkeley pointed out that the US government cannot deport its citizens, even if they’re in prison. The offer to send American criminals to El Salvador could face major legal challenges.
However, some see this as a win. Elon Musk supported the deal, calling it a “great idea.” But critics, including human rights groups, are not so sure.
Human rights concerns
El Salvador’s prison system has been under heavy scrutiny. The country’s jails are overcrowded and lack basic facilities like clean water and proper ventilation. The US State Department has warned travelers about the “harsh” conditions in Salvadoran prisons, which have drawn widespread criticism for their inhumane treatment of inmates.
Rights groups fear that sending prisoners to such conditions would violate international laws on the treatment of migrants and criminals. Professor Mneesha Gellman called it an “unprecedented proposal” that could lead to “democratic backsliding” and worsen the situation for deportees.
The reaction from central America
The deal has sparked a furious reaction from politicians in El Salvador and beyond. Manuel Flores, a leader from the left-wing Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, criticized the plan, saying, “Are we a dumping ground for the world’s criminals?”
El Salvador’s decision to house foreign criminals is seen by many as a dangerous step. Critics argue it could turn the country into a “garbage dump” for deported criminals from around the world.
Trump’s tough immigration policies
This agreement is part of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on immigration. The US has been pushing hard to send deportees to Central American countries, including El Salvador, under a “safe third country” agreement. This arrangement would allow the US to send non-Salvadoran migrants to El Salvador instead of their home countries.
Trump has been relentless in his pursuit of stricter immigration controls. He has also ramped up efforts against transnational gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, which he claims are terrorizing US cities. Under Trump’s executive orders, Tren de Aragua could soon be designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
In another twist, Trump has hinted at a similar deal with Venezuela, which has agreed to accept deportees from the US. This shift is significant, especially after Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro had previously refused to take back its nationals.
As Trump pushes forward with his hardline immigration policies, El Salvador’s offer to house criminals, including US citizens, is part of his broader strategy to manage the country’s growing immigration crisis.
The future of the deal
It remains unclear whether the US government will follow through with sending American criminals to El Salvador. Legal hurdles are bound to delay or even block the agreement. But Bukele has made it clear he’s ready to go forward, stating that the deal would be financially beneficial for El Salvador and help support its troubled prison system.
As the US faces mounting pressure to address illegal immigration and gang violence, El Salvador’s bold offer may be just the beginning of an ongoing, controversial partnership between the two countries.
In the end, the world will be watching as this unprecedented deal unfolds. Will El Salvador become the US’s new prison partner? Only time will tell.
