El Salvador's mega-prison emerges as a new destination for Venezuelan criminal organization members detained in the United States.
According to Fox News, the White House confirmed a $6 million payment to El Salvador for accepting and detaining over 200 members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua who were previously living illegally in the United States.
The agreement materialized during a critical period when the Trump administration faced legal challenges regarding its deportation efforts. A federal judge, James Boasberg, issued an order to halt deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which Trump had invoked specifically to target Tren de Aragua members present in the country.
The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the financial arrangement with El Salvador, emphasizing its cost-effectiveness compared to housing these individuals in U.S. maximum security prisons. The administration's strategy represents a novel approach to managing criminal illegal immigrants when direct deportation to their home country becomes legally complicated.
President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador publicly acknowledged the arrangement through social media, revealing plans to integrate these detainees into the country's existing prison labor program. The program, known as Zero Idleness, currently involves more than 40,000 inmates engaged in various workshops and labor activities.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed strong support for Bukele's cooperation, lauding him as the strongest security leader in the region and a valuable U.S. ally. This endorsement underscores the growing partnership between the two nations in addressing regional security challenges.
The transfer of 238 gang members occurred simultaneously with Judge Boasberg's intervention to stop deportations under the wartime law. This judicial action specifically ordered flights that were actively departing to return, creating a complex legal situation for the administration.
The invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 by Trump marked only the fourth time in U.S. history that this law has been employed. Previous implementations occurred during significant conflicts including the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II.
White House Press Secretary Leavitt elaborated on the financial aspects of the arrangement, stating:
It was approximately $6 million, to El Salvador, for the detention of these foreign terrorists. And I would point out that is pennies on the dollar in comparison to the cost of life, and the cost it would impose on the American taxpayer to house these terrorists in maximum security prisons here in the United States of America.
El Salvador's President Bukele detailed his country's perspective on the arrangement through social media platforms. He emphasized the long-term sustainability of their prison system, stating:
Over time, these actions, combined with the production already being generated by more than 40,000 inmates engaged in various workshops and labor under the Zero Idleness program, will help make our prison system self-sustainable. As of today, it costs $200 million per year.
The agreement represents a significant expansion of El Salvador's role in regional security cooperation. Their willingness to accept and detain foreign criminal elements demonstrates an evolving approach to international law enforcement collaboration.
El Salvador's state-of-the-art Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca will serve as the primary facility for housing these detainees. The facility's infrastructure and existing programs align with the country's broader strategy of maintaining strict control over criminal organizations.
The Trump administration orchestrated a $6 million agreement with El Salvador to house and detain 238 members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang who were previously residing illegally in the United States. This arrangement emerged as an alternative solution when conventional deportation methods faced legal obstacles through a federal court order. The partnership not only demonstrates evolving international cooperation in managing criminal organizations but also represents a significant shift in regional security strategies, with El Salvador expanding its role as a key U.S. ally in maintaining regional stability.
