, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has offered the United States the opportunity to send its criminals, including those with U.S. citizenship, to be incarcerated in El Salvador’s newly-built mega-jail, the Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT). This offer, announced following a meeting between Bukele and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to alleviate overcrowded U.S. prisons while providing a solution to crime, but has drawn significant criticism from human rights groups.
Bukele’s administration has been marked by its aggressive stance on crime, particularly gang violence, which has plagued El Salvador for years. Since assuming office in 2019, Bukele has made cracking down on criminal activity a priority, using controversial methods, including mass arrests and extreme incarceration tactics. His government’s focus on dismantling notorious gangs such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua has earned him strong support from local citizens who now feel safer in their neighborhoods. In a country where gang violence has long been an ever-present threat, Bukele’s policies have brought a semblance of stability to El Salvador, with many citizens reporting a decrease in violent crime.
The CECOT facility, which is designed to hold up to 40,000 inmates, symbolizes Bukele’s no-nonsense approach to crime. The maximum-security jail has already been criticized by human rights organizations due to its harsh conditions, including overcrowded cells and reports of ill-treatment of prisoners. Nonetheless, Bukele is determined to press on with his methods, which he claims have been vital in restoring peace to the country.
Rubio, who visited El Salvador as part of his first overseas tour as U.S. Secretary of State, expressed gratitude for the offer. He highlighted the unique nature of the deal, stating that no other country had extended such an invitation to the U.S. government. Under the terms of the agreement, the U.S. would send convicted criminals—ranging from gang members to those involved in transnational crimes—to the CECOT facility for a fee. Bukele emphasized that the fee would be “relatively low” for the U.S. but “significant” for El Salvador, making the prison sustainable.
The offer comes at a time when the U.S. has focused on increasing deportations of undocumented migrants, with President Donald Trump’s administration prioritizing swift removals. However, while Bukele’s hardline stance has proven popular domestically, the treatment of detainees and the human rights concerns surrounding it remain contentious issues that could affect the future of this international collaboration.
