No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCentral AmericaEl SalvadorU.S. Deports More Alleged Gang Members to El Salvador Amid Controversy

U.S. Deports More Alleged Gang Members to El Salvador Amid Controversy

The United States has intensified deportations to El Salvador, targeting migrants accused of ties to the Salvadoran gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, both labeled “terrorist” organizations by Washington. On March 16, 2025, over 250 migrants—238 alleged Tren de Aragua members and 23 MS-13 affiliates—were flown to El Salvador’s Cecot mega-prison, a 40,000-capacity facility central to President Nayib Bukele’s anti-gang crackdown. A smaller group of 17 followed on March 31, including “murderers and rapists,” per Secretary of State Marco Rubio, despite a federal judge’s order halting such removals under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act.

These deportations stem from a U.S.-El Salvador agreement, solidified during February talks between Rubio and Bukele, where El Salvador agreed to house deportees for a fee—$6 million for the initial 250. Bukele hailed the deal as a model for hemispheric security, while President Donald Trump praised him as a “friend” tackling crime. The White House frames the policy as protecting Americans from “heinous monsters,” with Rubio calling it a blueprint for prosperity.

Yet, controversy abounds. Human rights groups decry Cecot’s conditions—overcrowding, head-shaving, and alleged abuses—calling it inhumane. The March deportations included Kilmar Ábrego García, reportedly sent in error, highlighting due process concerns. Critics, including the ACLU, argue the U.S. relies on flimsy evidence like tattoos to label migrants as gang members, with CBS News finding no criminal records for 75% of the 238 Venezuelans deported in March.

Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, last used in wartime, has sparked legal battles. A D.C. judge’s March 15 ruling to pause deportations was ignored as planes landed in El Salvador, prompting Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro to call it “kidnapping.” Bukele, undeterred, touts Cecot as a solution, but Salvadorans fear it could strain their anti-crime gains.

As Trump and Bukele meet in Washington to deepen ties, the policy’s cost—human and diplomatic—looms large. While deportations aim to curb gang violence, missteps risk alienating allies and eroding trust.

Trending Now

Guatemala Joins Costa Rica and Ecuador in Building Anti-Gang Prisons

The Guatemalan government has put forward a new bill aimed at hitting gangs harder, with steeper sentences and a dedicated high-security prison, as the...

Costa Rica Pesticide Use Harms Soil Life, UNA Study Finds

Costa Rica is one of the countries that uses the most agrochemicals, which has a series of negative repercussions in various areas. A recent...

Costa Rica Updates National ID Card with Enhanced Security Features

Costa Rica's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) rolled out a redesigned physical identity card today. The update focuses on better protection against fraud while keeping...

Costa Rica TSE Seeks to Lift President Chaves Immunity

Costa Rica's electoral tribunal has stepped up pressure on President Rodrigo Chaves by asking lawmakers to strip his immunity over claims of political interference...

Costa Rica’s Hyatt Centric Escazú Finalist in GRI Awards

Costa Rica's hotel scene keeps building momentum on the global stage. The Hyatt Centric San José Escazú stands out as a finalist for Best...

Cost of living in Costa Rica from a U.S. Expat

Paradise doesn’t come cheap. Cars, gas, appliances, phones, TVs often cost more in Costa Rica. But not everything. Here’s a simple, like-for-like look at...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica