U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced late Monday that El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has offered to accept deportees from the United States, including violent criminals currently imprisoned in U.S. facilities. Rubio, who had been meeting with Bukele in San Salvador, highlighted the unprecedented nature of this offer, stating that Bukele agreed to house detainees of all nationalities in El Salvador’s prisons, even those who are U.S. citizens or legal residents serving sentences for violent crimes.
Rubio’s visit to El Salvador was part of a broader regional tour focused on migration issues. Bukele confirmed the offer on social media, noting that El Salvador would accept only convicted criminals and charge a fee that would support the sustainability of the country’s prison system. While U.S. officials clarified that the government does not have plans to deport American citizens, the offer was seen as significant in addressing the challenge of deporting foreign nationals from the U.S.
Rubio’s discussions in El Salvador were also centered on the Trump administration’s demands for stronger immigration enforcement in Central America, which includes encouraging regional countries to accept deportees. The agreement with El Salvador is being viewed as part of a broader strategy, including a potential “safe third country” agreement for migrants who enter the U.S. illegally. Rubio mentioned that Bukele’s offer extended to violent criminals as well, a proposal that has raised concerns among human rights groups about the potential mistreatment of detainees.
Additionally, during his visit, Rubio observed a U.S.-funded deportation flight departing Panama, which carried 43 migrants being sent back to Colombia. He emphasized that mass migration was a global crisis, with countries around the world impacted by the issue. Rubio’s tour also addressed broader geopolitical concerns, including U.S.-Panama relations, as tensions rise over China’s involvement with the Panama Canal.
