El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has presented a controversial proposal to the United States, offering to incarcerate illegal immigrants and convicted criminals, including U.S. citizens, in El Salvador’s mega-prison, CECOT, in exchange for a fee. This unprecedented offer, made during a meeting with Senator Marco Rubio, has sparked debate and raised concerns about its legality and implications. While Bukele has positioned this as a mutually beneficial arrangement, critics argue it could transform the region into a dumping ground for the U.S.’s unwanted population.
Bukele’s proposal extends beyond simply housing illegal immigrants facing deportation. He has also expressed willingness to imprison convicted criminals, including U.S. citizens, in El Salvadoran prisons. While this aspect of the offer has been met with skepticism and legal challenges, as deporting U.S. citizens is illegal, it underscores the breadth of Bukele’s proposition. The primary target of this agreement, however, appears to be gang members, particularly those associated with MS-13 and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua. Bukele has committed to accepting all Salvadoran MS-13 members illegally present in the U.S. and has also offered to incarcerate members of other international criminal organizations.
This proposed agreement, often referred to as a “safe third country” agreement, would essentially allow the U.S. to transfer individuals deemed undesirable, including convicted criminals and illegal immigrants, to El Salvador for incarceration. While the financial details remain unclear, Bukele has stated the fee would be “relatively low” for the U.S. but “significant” for El Salvador, contributing to the sustainability of their prison system. This suggests El Salvador views this as a potential revenue stream, leveraging their newly constructed mega-prison to address their own economic needs while simultaneously providing a service to the U.S.
Senator Rubio, a proponent of stricter immigration policies, has lauded this agreement as “extraordinary” and a potential solution to the ongoing challenges of managing illegal immigration and transnational criminal activity. He believes this agreement could serve as a deterrent, sending a strong message to potential migrants and disrupting the activities of dangerous criminal organizations. While the Trump administration has expressed interest in exploring this option, particularly for Venezuelan gang members who might not be accepted back by Venezuela, the legality and feasibility of deporting U.S. citizens remain significant hurdles.
Critics of this proposal, including Manuel Flores, the secretary general of El Salvador’s leftist opposition party, the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), argue that this agreement reduces Central America to a “backyard” for the U.S. to dispose of its “garbage.” They express concerns about the human rights implications of transferring individuals to a country with a potentially different legal and prison system. Furthermore, questions arise about the long-term sustainability and ethical implications of essentially outsourcing a nation’s prison system to another country.
This proposal emerges within a broader context of increasing U.S. pressure on Central American countries to cooperate with immigration enforcement efforts. Rubio’s visit to El Salvador, part of a larger tour of Central American nations, aimed to secure greater regional cooperation in addressing illegal immigration. This coincides with the Trump administration’s focus on stricter immigration policies and increased deportations. The backdrop of a sweeping freeze on U.S. foreign assistance further complicates the situation, although waivers have been granted for certain critical programs in the countries Rubio is visiting. The long-term implications of this agreement and its impact on regional stability and human rights remain to be seen.
