Trump Doubles Down on Deportation Stance with El Salvador, Floats Sending U.S. Citizens There
The meeting between President Trump and El Salvador’s President Bukele quickly took a turn on Monday. Bukele offered assistance with U.S. crime and terrorism issues in his opening statements. By the end of the press conference, Trump and his team appeared to accept this offer, suggesting potentially unlawful actions.
Firstly, Trump’s advisors indicated they would disregard a Supreme Court mandate to assist in the release of Kilmar Abrego García, a Maryland resident mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March. He is currently held in El Salvador’s CECOT prison. Trump then proposed sending American citizens convicted of crimes to El Salvador, where prisoners are isolated and allegedly face abuse.
This highlights Trump’s strategy in his second term: responding to challenges to his authority, including civil liberties, by seeking more power. When asked about deporting U.S. citizens to El Salvador, Trump stated he supports the idea for those who commit violent crimes: “You think there’s a special category of person? They’re as bad as anybody that comes in. We have bad ones too. I’m all for it.”
Observers anticipated discussions about Abrego García’s case at the press conference. Following the admission of his mistaken deportation, a district court ordered the administration on April 4 to help release him from CECOT and return him to the U.S. The Supreme Court, acknowledging the error on April 10, also instructed the government to “facilitate” his release, while recognizing the President’s power over foreign affairs.
When asked if the administration would comply, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated Abrego García was in the U.S. illegally. She claimed that immigration courts in 2019 deemed him a member of MS-13. “That’s up to El Salvador if they want to return him. That’s not up to us,” she said, offering a U.S. plane if El Salvador chose to send him back. Bukele responded he would not return Abrego García.
Trump then considered sending U.S. citizens who commit violent crimes to El Salvador prisons. He said that Bondi is “studying” the laws regarding this proposal. “If we can do that, that’s good,” Trump said. “I’m talking about violent people.”
El Salvador’s prisons have been criticized by Human Rights Watch for “torture, ill-treatment, incommunicado detention, severe violations of due process and inhumane conditions.” Sending U.S. citizens there could violate the 8th Amendment and restrictions against imprisoning people far from home, as outlined in the First Step Act. Bukele embraces the “coolest dictator” label and has dismissed civil rights concerns during his gang violence crackdown.
Abrego García lived in Maryland with his U.S. citizen wife and children. In 2019, officials initiated deportation proceedings, alleging MS-13 membership. While some immigration authorities agreed, another judge later determined that his family was threatened by the gang in El Salvador. He was arrested in March and mistakenly put on a deportation flight, according to the Trump administration.
Judge Paula Xinis questioned Abrego García’s gang affiliation in the April 4 ruling. She noted the government’s evidence was limited to a Chicago Bulls hat and hoodie, along with an unverified claim from an informant about MS-13 ties in New York, where he had never lived. She ordered the Trump administration to assist in his release and report on their actions.
Abrego García’s case questions the Trump administration’s potential misidentification of gang members in El Salvador. Senator Jeanne Shaheen expressed concern that 75% of migrants sent to CECOT have no criminal record. Since January 20, the Trump administration has deported over 200 people to CECOT prisons in El Salvador.