On Monday, President Donald Trump welcomed Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador, to the White House in a meeting that underscores the small Central American nation's role as a crucial ally in the U.S. administration's aggressive mass deportation efforts. Since March, El Salvador has accepted over 200 Venezuelan immigrants from the U.S., whom Trump administration officials have accused of being involved in gang activities and violent crimes. These deportees are currently being held in El Salvador's notorious maximum-security prison located just outside the capital, San Salvador.
The situation has intensified with reports that a Maryland resident, who was wrongly deported, remains in custody in El Salvador despite court orders for his return. This has positioned Bukele as a vital partner for the Trump administration, especially as he enjoys significant popularity in El Salvador due to his tough stance on crime and the powerful street gangs that have plagued the nation.
During a press conference, Trump praised Bukele's efforts, stating, "He’s taking care of a lot of problems that we have that we really wouldn’t be able to take care of from a cost standpoint. He’s been amazing. We have some very bad people in that prison. People that should have never been allowed into our country."
Since Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit in February, Bukele has clearly indicated his willingness to assist the Trump administration with its deportation strategies. Under a recent agreement, the U.S. will pay approximately $6 million for El Salvador to detain Venezuelan immigrants for one year. Bukele has shown a decisive attitude towards deportations; when a federal judge ordered a halt to a flight carrying immigrants to El Salvador, Bukele quipped via social media, "Oopsie... too late."
This month, the Supreme Court authorized Trump to invoke the Alien Enemies Act—an 18th-century law—to expedite the deportation of these immigrants, although it mandated that they receive court hearings prior to removal. Over the weekend, an additional ten individuals, whom the administration claims are affiliated with the notorious MS-13 and Tren de Aragua gangs, were sent to El Salvador.
Trump has expressed a desire for El Salvador to also accept U.S. citizens who have committed violent crimes, although he noted that this would need to be done "according to the law." Legal experts, however, are unsure how this could be accomplished without violating legal provisions. Leavitt, a legal analyst, suggested that such individuals would be "heinous, violent criminals who have broken our nation’s laws repeatedly."
In another development, the Supreme Court has instructed the administration to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident and Salvadoran citizen, who was ordered to remain in the U.S. due to concerns over gang violence should he be deported. While Trump indicated respect for the Supreme Court's decisions, the administration has not clarified the steps being taken to comply with the ruling.
On Monday, White House aide Stephen Miller suggested that the U.S. would not demand the return of Abrego Garcia, stating, "It’s up to El Salvador and to the government and the people of El Salvador what the fate of their own citizens is."
Bukele’s anti-gang measures have garnered popular support, but they come at a cost: the country has been under a state of emergency for three years, which suspends certain civil rights. He constructed a large prison in Tecoluca, just outside San Salvador, to accommodate those accused of gang affiliations.
Bukele's administration has also expressed a desire for the U.S. to return Salvadoran gang leaders as part of this arrangement. His ambassador to the U.S. previously stated that facing justice at home was "an issue of honor."
As Bukele navigates this complex relationship with the United States, he could leverage the recent 10% tariff imposed by Trump, arguing that it hampers the economic recovery he aims to achieve in El Salvador. César Ríos, director of the El Salvador Immigrant Agenda Association, emphasized the importance of this visit translating into tangible benefits for Salvadorans both at home and abroad.
While both Bukele and Trump share populist tendencies and have constructed their public images through media engagement, their approaches to governance and law enforcement reveal deeper complexities. Bukele came to power during Trump’s first term, and their initial relationship was straightforward, particularly concerning immigration. However, as the Biden administration took office, Bukele's governance faced scrutiny over democratic backsliding.
Just prior to Bukele's arrival in Washington, the State Department updated its travel advisory for El Salvador to Level 1, indicating it as a safe destination for U.S. citizens. This advisory highlights the declining rates of gang activity and violent crime in recent years, marking a significant change in the country’s security landscape.
