El Salvador has agreed to take in dangerous criminals from US prisons, including American citizens. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced this after meeting President Nayib Bukele. Consequently, the US has welcomed the decision with appreciation.
Rubio praised Bukele’s offer and called it a “remarkable act of friendship.” He further stated, “No country’s ever made an offer of friendship such as this.”
El Salvador to Accept Deported Criminals
Additionally, El Salvador will accept deported criminals of any nationality who are in the US unlawfully. Rubio emphasized Bukele’s success in tackling gang violence. As a result, El Salvador, once the world’s murder capital, has become one of the safest countries in the region. However, human rights groups have criticized his harsh policies.
Bukele’s Prison Offer Extends Beyond Past Deals
Furthermore, Bukele has offered to house US criminals, including American citizens and legal residents. Rubio confirmed this, stating, “He has offered to house in his jails dangerous American criminals in custody in our country, including those with US citizenship and legal residency.”
Later, Rubio revealed that he had informed President Donald Trump about the offer. This move aligns with Trump’s ongoing efforts to speed up deportations and tighten border security. In response, the US has deployed more troops to the Mexico border. Moreover, Trump has issued an executive order to halt the processing of asylum seekers.
Focus on Gang Members in Deportation Plan
In addition to accepting criminals from El Salvador, Bukele’s offer includes migrants from other countries. Rubio suggested that the plan will primarily target gang members from groups like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua.
Subsequently, Bukele confirmed his prison offer on X (formerly Twitter). He stated, “We are willing to take in only convicted criminals (including convicted US citizens) into our mega-prison… in exchange for a fee.”
We have offered the United States of America the opportunity to outsource part of its prison system.
We are willing to take in only convicted criminals (including convicted U.S. citizens) into our mega-prison (CECOT) in exchange for a fee.
The fee would be relatively low for… pic.twitter.com/HTNwtp35Aq
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) February 4, 2025
Bukele’s Crackdown: Success and Controversy
Since taking office in 2019, Bukele has aggressively cracked down on crime. Consequently, El Salvador has seen a significant drop in violence.
His government has arrested about 75,000 suspected gang members under emergency laws. Although crime rates have fallen, human rights groups remain concerned. Amnesty International warned that Bukele’s policies might be replacing gang violence with “state violence.”