By Hassanat Adebowale
El Salvador has proposed to house criminals deported from the United States, including those with US citizenship, in its vast maximum-security prison complex. This proposal was made during a meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele during Rubio’s visit to the Central American nation.
President Bukele, known for his stringent measures against gangs, announced that he had presented the US with “the opportunity to outsource part of its prison system.” Secretary Rubio expressed profound gratitude for the offer, describing it as an unprecedented gesture of friendship.
“He has offered to house in his jails dangerous American criminals in custody in our country, including those with US citizenship and legal residency,” Rubio told reporters. He added that El Salvador would also take in deported migrants and criminals from any nationality, including members of the notorious MS-13 and Tren de Aragua gangs.
Bukele later confirmed the offer on social media, specifying that “we are willing to take in only convicted criminals (including convicted US citizens) into our mega-prison (CECOT) in exchange for a fee.” He noted that while the fee would be relatively low for the US, it would be significant for El Salvador, making the prison sustainable.
Since taking office in 2019, Bukele has prioritized cracking down on crime. The newly built maximum-security prison, Cecot [Terrorism Confinement Centre], is central to his efforts to incarcerate and punish the most violent gang members. The prison, which can hold up to 40,000 inmates, was inaugurated with the release of photos and videos showing shaven-headed and tattooed prisoners being marched through its corridors.
The offer to house US criminals comes as part of Bukele’s broader strategy to position El Salvador as a key player in regional security. By leveraging the country’s newly built mega-prison, Bukele aims to strengthen ties with the US and potentially secure additional resources for his anti-crime initiatives.
The proposal has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters argue that it could help alleviate overcrowding in US prisons and provide El Salvador with much-needed financial support. Critics, however, express concerns over potential human rights abuses and the ethical implications of outsourcing prison management to another country.
As discussions continue, the international community will be closely monitoring the developments of this unprecedented offer and its potential impact on both countries’ criminal justice systems.
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