El Salvador Offers to House U.S. Criminals in Its Mega-Prison

El Salvador has proposed taking in criminals deported from the United States—including those with U.S. citizenship—and detaining them in its massive prison facility, President Nayib Bukele confirmed.

The announcement came after a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Bukele during Rubio’s visit to the Central American nation. Bukele described the proposal as an opportunity for the U.S. to “outsource part of its prison system,” a move that has sparked both praise and controversy.

Rubio expressed gratitude for the unprecedented offer, stating, “No country has ever made an offer of friendship such as this.” He added that El Salvador would accept not only deported criminals but also individuals linked to transnational gangs such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua.

Bukele later elaborated on the offer via social media, clarifying that El Salvador would only take in convicted criminals—including U.S. citizens—at its mega-prison, the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), in exchange for a fee. He emphasized that while the cost to the U.S. would be relatively low, it would provide crucial funding to sustain El Salvador’s prison system.

Bukele’s tough-on-crime policies, which have significantly reduced gang violence in El Salvador, have been widely popular domestically. However, human rights groups have criticized his methods, citing mass arrests and harsh prison conditions. The proposal, if accepted, could mark a significant shift in U.S.-El Salvador relations and the handling of deported criminals.