Trump proposes to deport American criminals to El Salvador
- The Trump administration started deporting Venezuelan gang members to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador in March 2023.
- Trump proposed during a meeting with El Salvador's president the deportation of American criminals to the same prison.
- The plan faced criticism and raised legal concerns about human rights and the proper legal processes for deportation.
In mid-March 2023, the Trump administration began deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members to a notorious prison in El Salvador, known as the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). More than 200 individuals were sent there after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act, which allows deportation without normal proceedings for individuals from countries deemed hostile. During a meeting with El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, Trump raised the idea of including domestic criminals in the deportation process, emphasizing his belief that these so-called 'homegrown criminals' should also be sent to CECOT. Trump noted his intent to work under legal frameworks and asserted that these criminals pose significant threats to society. Despite his administration's claims, the legality and morality of this proposed policy have been met with considerable scrutiny and opposition, including from U.S. district judges who have attempted to halt mass deportations.