US pays $6 million to El Salvador to take in Tren de Aragua members

The United States has made a significant move by paying El Salvador $6 million to take in Venezuelan illegal immigrants who were scheduled to be deported to their home countries. This decision was announced by the White House on Monday, shedding light on the Trump administration’s strategy to address the issue of illegal immigrants in the country.

According to reports, at least 238 members of the notorious Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, who were residing illegally in the U.S., were sent to El Salvador around the same time when a federal judge intervened to block deportations of illegal immigrants under a wartime law invoked by President Donald Trump.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt elaborated on the financial implications of this decision for U.S. taxpayers, stating that approximately $6 million was paid to El Salvador for the detention of these individuals. She emphasized that this cost is minimal compared to the expenses that would have been incurred if these individuals were housed in maximum-security prisons in the United States.

In response to this development, El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele expressed his thoughts on social media, highlighting that while the U.S. would pay a low fee for housing the migrants, the cost to his country would be substantial. Bukele also shared his vision for making the prison system in El Salvador self-sustainable with the revenue generated from various programs involving inmates.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio commended President Bukele for his leadership and cooperation in accepting criminal illegal aliens, describing him as a strong security leader in the region and a valuable ally to the U.S. Amidst these deportations, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued an order to halt deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which was invoked by Trump to target the Tren de Aragua members.

The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 allows for the deportation of individuals from enemy nations without a hearing, and this is not the first time it has been utilized, with previous instances during the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II. Boasberg’s directive to halt deportation flights reflects the ongoing legal complexities surrounding immigration policies and enforcement.

This latest development underscores the complex nature of immigration issues and the efforts being made by the U.S. government to address them in collaboration with international partners like El Salvador. The financial implications, legal challenges, and diplomatic considerations involved in such decisions highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to immigration reform.