Washington, D.C. – President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador arrived at the White House on Monday for a high-stakes meeting with former President Donald Trump, cementing an unlikely alliance that has transformed the Central American nation into a key player in U.S. immigration enforcement.
A Controversial Partnership
The visit highlights a controversial arrangement in which:
- 200+ Venezuelan migrants accused of gang ties by the Trump administration have been imprisoned in El Salvador’s notorious maximum-security facility
- The U.S. pays $6 million annually to house detainees in the prison, built under Bukele’s gang crackdown
- A wrongfully deported Maryland man remains in Salvadoran custody despite U.S. court orders for his return
Trump praised Bukele’s approach, calling him a “fantastic” ally who handles “very bad people we can’t manage cost-effectively.”
The “Gang Prison” Deal
Bukele’s government has detained 84,000+ suspects since declaring a state of emergency in 2022, suspending certain civil liberties. His Tecoluca prison—a sprawling complex near San Salvador—now holds U.S.-deported Venezuelans, whom Trump officials allege belong to gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua.
Critics note:
- No public evidence confirms the deportees’ gang affiliations
- The Supreme Court recently ruled detainees must receive hearings before removal
- Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident wrongfully deported, remains stranded despite judicial orders
Political Symbiosis
The meeting underscores shared populist tactics between both leaders:
- Media Savvy: Both bypass traditional press via social media
- Hardline Policies: Bukele’s gang crackdown mirrors Trump’s immigration rhetoric
- Mutual Benefits: Reduced border crossings please Trump; potential tariff relief could aid Bukele’s economy
What’s Next?
- More Deportations: 10 additional detainees arrived in El Salvador this week
- Policy Expansion: Trump floated deporting U.S. citizens convicted of violent crimes—a legally dubious proposal
- Bukele’s Requests: Likely to seek eased U.S. tariffs and repatriation of Salvadoran gang leaders