The Trump administration is working on a bold new plan to address migration with El Salvador. This agreement would let the U.S. send migrants who aren’t from El Salvador—including potentially dangerous gang members—to the small Central American country to seek asylum. According to CBS News, this is all still in the works, with talks happening behind the scenes.
Here’s how it would work: El Salvador could become a “safe third country,” which means people from other countries who come to the U.S. seeking asylum might be sent to El Salvador instead. This includes people like members of Tren de Aragua, a notorious gang that started in Venezuela over a decade ago. Venezuela’s economy has been in freefall under President Nicolás Maduro, pushing millions of people to flee, with some making their way to the U.S. and other parts of Latin America.
In the run-up to the 2024 election, both Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance made claims about the dangers of migrant gang members, suggesting that they were “taking over cities” in the U.S. They used these claims to push for tougher immigration rules.
Meanwhile, in El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele has been cracking down hard on gangs. He’s imprisoned more than 75,000 people in an attempt to regain control, even going so far as to suspend civil liberties during a state of emergency after a violent weekend in March 2022. While this crackdown has made the country safer for some, it has also led to allegations of abuse and human rights violations, with some innocent people caught up in the dragnet.
Conditions in Salvadoran prisons are harsh. One former prisoner shared a story about being crammed into a cell with 70 others, only 10 of whom were gang members. Human rights groups, like Cristosal, have documented abuses, including torture and death in the overcrowded prisons.
In fact, the U.S. State Department has raised concerns about the human rights situation in El Salvador, mentioning issues like unlawful killings, forced disappearances, and mistreatment by security forces. These troubling reports have drawn attention, especially since El Salvador is now being considered a potential destination for migrants seeking refuge.
Trump recently had a phone call with Bukele, where the two leaders discussed ways to curb illegal immigration and target gangs like Tren de Aragua. The Trump administration has also started sending deportees to Central America, including El Salvador, using military flights—something that’s not typically done for deportations.
In a tweet, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt celebrated the deportation flights, saying that President Trump is sending a clear message: if you enter the U.S. illegally, you will face serious consequences.
While deportations continue, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is preparing for his first overseas trip as the U.S. Secretary of State. He’s set to visit several Central American countries, including El Salvador, as part of his mission to address mass migration, a hot-button issue for the U.S. government.
Trump has vowed to deport millions of undocumented migrants in the U.S., a promise he’s kept at the forefront of his 2024 campaign. The debate over how best to handle migration continues to divide the country, with this latest deal with El Salvador adding another layer to the complex issue.
What do you think about this plan? Would it help solve the migration crisis or make things worse? Let us know your thoughts!