El Salvador Offers to House Dangerous Criminals Deported by the US

In a recent meeting, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele extended an offer to the United States to accommodate "dangerous criminals" in the country's prisons. This proposal, announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio after their discussions, represents a step beyond simply allowing El Salvador to accept its deported citizens. Rubio emphasized that migrants designated as dangerous criminals, including members of notorious gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, could be sent to Salvadoran facilities.

Rubio's visit, his first foreign trip as the US Secretary of State, was aimed at garnering support from Central American nations for the Trump administration's efforts to increase deportations. Additionally, he is advocating for agreements that would enable third countries to accept nationals from countries that refuse to take them back. Notably, countries like Cuba and Venezuela have a history of limiting the number of deportees, but recent discussions hint at potential shifts, especially with Venezuelan officials reportedly agreeing to accept their citizens.

During the discussions, Bukele also expressed willingness to house US citizens or legal residents who are deemed dangerous criminals, though it remains uncertain if the US will pursue this option. The plan proposes that El Salvador could take convicted criminals, along with the offer of a financial arrangement to sustain its prison system, highlighting the high costs associated with their harsh prison conditions, which have been criticized for problems like overcrowding and inadequate sanitation.

Bukele's initiatives align closely with the Trump administration's migration policies, with the Salvadoran leader's recent crackdown on crime earning praise from Washington. His policies have led to significant arrests and a noticeable decline in homicide rates, which are believed to have reduced the number of Salvadorans trying to enter the US unlawfully. Meanwhile, under the Trump administration, there has been an uptick in the deportation of migrants, intensified by military-backed repatriation efforts and adjustments to existing protections for Venezuelans residing in the US.