El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has proposed accepting deportees from the United States, including non-Salvadoran migrants and even U.S. citizens convicted of crimes, in exchange for payment.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the deal “the most unprecedented and extraordinary migratory agreement anywhere in the world.” Under this proposal, the U.S. could deport non-Salvadoran migrants to El Salvador as part of a “safe third country” arrangement. Additionally, Bukele has offered to house U.S. citizens and legal residents serving sentences in American prisons, effectively outsourcing part of the U.S. prison system.
Bukele confirmed the offer on X, stating that El Salvador would accept only convicted criminals and charge a fee that, while affordable for the U.S., would help sustain the country’s prison system. Billionaire Elon Musk responded on X, calling it a “Great idea!!”
Despite the proposal, legal obstacles remain. The U.S. government cannot deport its own citizens, and a U.S. official clarified that the Trump administration has no current plans to pursue such deportations. Meanwhile, the State Department has previously described Salvadoran prisons as “harsh and dangerous,” citing inadequate conditions in many facilities.
Rubio’s visit to El Salvador comes as the Trump administration continues pushing for stricter immigration enforcement. Separately, U.S. Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth visited the southern border, emphasizing the government’s goal of achieving “100% operational control” with the support of active-duty and National Guard troops.
