After receiving a consent from the country’s leader on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio left El Salvador, including violent criminals now imprisoned there.
According to Rubio, President Nayib Bukele has signed an “unprecedented and incredible” recruitment contract, according to The Associated Press. Rubio stated that El Salvador had welcome immigrants of all backgrounds who are detained in the United States and offer prison room for dangerous criminals serving words, even if they are U.S. citizens or legal residents, after a heated debate at Bukele’s house outside San Salvador on Monday evening.
Rubio’s attend aimed to promote El Salvador, a key U. S. alliance, to enhance work in meeting President Donald Trump’s need for stronger emigration protection.
In a blog on X, Bukele confirmed the structure, revealing that El Salvador had suggested helping the country by accepting a portion of its prison population. He emphasized that only” convicted criminals” may be permitted to enter the country, noting that the agreement would help El Salvador generate income while keeping costs tolerable for the U.S., ensuring the economic viability of its incarceration system.
The billionaire Elon Musk, who works with Trump on governmental reforms, praised the concept on X, calling it a “great idea!” “!
Despite Rubio’s announcement, a U. S. official later clarified that the Trump administration had no immediate plans to deport American citizens but acknowledged the significance of Bukele’s offer. The deportation of Americans would likely face significant legal difficulties.
The State Department has described El Salvador’s prison conditions as “harsh and dangerous”, highlighting issues such as inadequate sanitation, potable water, ventilation, temperature control, and lighting.
The AP notes that El Salvador has been in a state of emergency since March 2022 as a result of a rise in gang violence. Bukele responded with a crackdown that suspended fundamental legal protections, resulting in over 83, 000 arrests with limited due process. In 2023, he opened a massive prison capable of housing 40, 000 inmates, where prisoners receive one meal per day, have no access to visitors, and lack rehabilitation programs.
El Salvador, once regarded as one of the most dangerous nations in the world, recorded just 114 murders last year, significantly enhancing security and boosting Bukele’s popularity among the country’s 6 million residents.
After witnessing a deportation flight made possible by the United States, which transported 43 people from Panama to Colombia, Rubio made his way to San Salvador. His visit came as a clear sign to Panama that the United States would act if it didn’t act quickly to overthrow China’s influence over the Panama Canal.
Migration remained the central focus of Rubio’s trip, which includes stops in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic after visiting Panama and El Salvador.
