Trump Considers Sending Imprisoned US Nationals To El Salvador's High-Security Mega Prison

In a surprising statement, US President Donald Trump revealed his willingness to send incarcerated American nationals to El Salvador’s high-security mega prison. Trump acknowledged the proposal made by El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, to house dangerous convicted criminals from the United States in the country’s ultra-secure facility.

“I would love to see that happen,” Trump said to reporters aboard Air Force One when asked about the possibility of sending US nationals to El Salvador. He emphasized that this solution would be cost-effective for the US, noting that El Salvador could house these prisoners at a significantly lower cost.

“If they can accommodate these dangerous criminals at a fraction of the expense, I’m all for it. But I would only proceed if it complies with the law,” Trump clarified.

The president also pointed out the seriousness of the criminals involved. “We have some extremely dangerous, homegrown criminals. If El Salvador or another nation is willing to take them, I would be happy to explore that, but I need to ensure it aligns with legal requirements.”

This proposal comes shortly after Trump publicly thanked President Bukele for accepting criminals deported from the US.

For more information on US-foreign prison arrangements, you can read this Reuters article on international prison exchanges.

US Prisoner Reforms and International Deals