WASHINGTON – On Monday, President Donald Trump will meet with El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, at the White House in what marks a significant moment in U.S. immigration policy. Bukele has been praised by the Trump administration for his willingness to take in individuals the U.S. wants to deport, particularly those accused of gang affiliations.
Trump has often lauded Bukele’s approach to tackling gang violence, highlighting his decision to house detainees in a high-security prison in El Salvador. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the prison’s human rights record. The Trump administration has already deported hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador, including one individual who was sent back by mistake.
Trump, who came into office with promises of overhauling U.S. immigration policy, has found an ally in Bukele. The arrangement allows the U.S. to offload detainees, including alleged gang members, to El Salvador. However, the conditions surrounding these deportations have raised questions.
In an interview on Sunday, Trump spoke highly of Bukele’s efforts, especially in managing the financial and logistical burden of housing these detainees. “I think he’s doing a fantastic job,” Trump said. “He’s taking care of a lot of problems that we really wouldn’t be able to take care of from a cost standpoint.” He further praised Bukele’s ability to manage dangerous criminals, including murderers and drug dealers, in his country’s prison system.
When asked about reports of human rights abuses in the mega-prison, Trump dismissed the concerns. “I don’t see it. I don’t see that,” he said.
The U.S. government continues to deport individuals, with 10 more people sent back to El Salvador on Saturday, alleged to be gang members. However, some of those detained, along with their families and legal representatives, argue that they are not gang members and did not have a fair opportunity to challenge the claims made against them. The U.S. government insists that the individuals were vetted and found to be part of the Tren de Aragua, which is labeled a terrorist group by the U.S.
One case that has drawn particular attention is that of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was deported to El Salvador despite a court order that protected him from deportation. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling recently directed the government to facilitate his return, but there’s been confusion over how to execute the order.
Trump had previously promised to comply with the court’s decision if necessary, but on Sunday, the administration filed that it was not obligated to help Abrego Garcia return from El Salvador’s prison.
While Trump and Bukele’s alliance continues to deepen, the ongoing debates over the treatment of detainees and the legitimacy of these deportations show just how complex the relationship between the two countries has become.
