El Salvador agrees to take US deportees of any nationality
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has made a bold proposal to the United States, offering to take in illegal immigrants facing deportation in exchange for a fee. This offer, made after a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, would see these individuals housed in El Salvador’s prison system, specifically in the mega-prison known as CECOT.
In a statement on Monday night, Bukele expressed his willingness to outsource part of the U.S. prison system to his country, stating that the fee paid by the U.S. would be significant for El Salvador, making their prison system sustainable. This unprecedented agreement has been hailed by Rubio as extraordinary and potentially groundbreaking in the realm of migration agreements.
While the offer does extend to include violent American criminals, it is important to note that it is illegal to deport U.S. citizens. However, the proposal could potentially be an option for Venezuelan gang members convicted in the U.S. if Venezuela refuses to accept them. Bukele has also promised to take back all Salvadoran MS-13 gang members in the U.S. illegally, as well as criminal illegal aliens from any country, particularly those affiliated with Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang.
The opposition party in El Salvador has raised concerns about the “safe third country” agreement, fearing that it may turn the region into a dumping ground for unwanted individuals. However, Rubio’s visit to El Salvador is part of a larger effort to garner support for President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan. The State Department has approved waivers for critical programs in the countries Rubio is visiting, as part of this push to combat illegal immigration.
Rubio’s Central American tour will continue with visits to Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic, where he will urge foreign leaders to do more to address the issue of illegal immigration. The Secretary of State’s efforts come at a time of sweeping freezes on U.S. foreign assistance and the shut down of taxpayer-funded programs targeting illegal immigration and crime in Central America.
Overall, the proposal by President Bukele represents a unique and potentially game-changing approach to addressing the issue of illegal immigration. As discussions and negotiations continue, it will be interesting to see how this agreement unfolds and what impact it may have on both the U.S. and El Salvador.
