El Salvador offers to lock up US criminals in its mega-jail

El Salvador has extended an offer to the United States to house criminals, including those with US citizenship, in its mega-jail as part of a deal announced following a meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. Bukele, known for his tough stance on gangs, presented the idea of allowing the US to "outsource" part of its prison system. Rubio expressed deep gratitude for the offer, emphasizing that no country had made such a proposal before.

The deal involves housing dangerous criminals, including members of notorious gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, as well as deported migrants of any nationality. Bukele confirmed on social media that El Salvador is willing to accept only convicted criminals, including US citizens, in exchange for a relatively low fee that would make the country’s prison system sustainable. The arrangement would involve housing these individuals in El Salvador’s mega-prison, CECOT.

El Salvador has proposed to house US criminals in its massive maximum-security prison, offering to take in those deported from the US, including citizens, and keep them in the newly built mega-jail. This proposal came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's meeting with President Nayib Bukele during his visit to El Salvador. Bukele, known for his tough approach to crime, stated that he was offering the US the chance to "outsource part of its prison system."

Rubio expressed gratitude for the offer, calling it a unique gesture of friendship. He added that the agreement would include housing dangerous criminals, including US citizens, and taking in deported migrants or criminals from any nationality, such as those involved in notorious gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. Bukele clarified on social media that the offer applies only to convicted criminals, with a fee for the US that would be low for them but significant for El Salvador, making the country’s prison system financially sustainable.

Since taking office in 2019, Bukele has focused on cracking down on crime, and his government has placed emphasis on the newly opened Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT), a high-security facility designed to imprison violent gang members. The jail, which can house up to 40,000 inmates, was inaugurated with images of prisoners, many of them tattooed and stripped to the waist, being escorted through its halls.

El Salvador has extended an offer to house US criminals, including those with US citizenship, in its newly built mega-jail. The proposal came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with President Nayib Bukele during a visit to the country. Bukele, known for his harsh stance on gangs, offered the US the opportunity to "outsource part of its prison system," a proposal Rubio called a unique gesture of friendship.

The arrangement would involve El Salvador accepting dangerous US criminals, including those with legal residency, as well as deported migrants and individuals from any nationality linked to transnational gangs like MS-13 or Tren de Aragua. Bukele confirmed that only convicted criminals would be accepted into the Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT), with a fee for the US that would be low for them but significant for El Salvador, helping sustain the prison system.

Since taking office in 2019, Bukele has prioritized cracking down on crime, with CECOT at the center of his efforts to imprison violent gang members. The prison, capable of holding up to 40,000 inmates, was inaugurated with images of prisoners being escorted through its halls, many shaven-headed and tattooed.

While Bukele’s approach has been popular among most Salvadorans, with many feeling safer from gang violence, it has drawn criticism from human rights groups. The treatment of inmates in CECOT, where many are held in overcrowded, windowless cells, has raised concerns, and some families argue that people have been wrongfully detained in mass arrests. Amnesty International has warned that the government's crackdown could be replacing gang violence with state violence, a criticism Bukele rejects. His hardline policies helped secure his re-election in February 2024 with over 84% of the vote.

El Salvador was the second stop on Secretary of State Marco Rubio's first overseas tour as the US top diplomat. His first stop was in Panama, where he called for "immediate changes" to address what he described as China's growing "influence and control" over the Panama Canal.

Next, Rubio will meet with officials in Costa Rica and Guatemala, with discussions expected to focus on migration and countering Chinese influence in the region.

Since taking office, US President Donald Trump has made the swift removal of undocumented migrants a top priority, pledging to carry out "mass deportations."

Meanwhile, El Salvador’s President Bukele continues to gain attention for his hardline stance on crime and his re-election, which saw him win by a landslide, securing widespread support from voters, particularly those on the conservative side.