El Salvador offers to accept criminals from ANY country as Trump plans to deport felons to ‘hell on earth’
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced an unprecedented migration agreement with El Salvador, which will see the Central American nation accept deportees of any nationality from the United States.
The deal includes provisions for El Salvador to take in American criminals currently serving sentences in US prisons.
“He’s agreed to the most unprecedented, extraordinary, extraordinary migratory agreement anywhere in the world”, Rubio said of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
The groundbreaking arrangement would allow the US to deport non-Salvadoran migrants and convicted criminals to El Salvador, marking a significant shift in regional migration policy.
President Bukele confirmed the broad agreement, stating it “does not have precedent in the history of the relationship, not just of the United States with El Salvador but rather I think in Latin America”.
Rubio’s visit to El Salvador forms part of his five-nation Central American tour, which includes stops in Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic.
The Secretary of State arrived in San Salvador after observing a US-funded deportation flight from Panama to Colombia.
Migration remains the primary focus of Rubio’s diplomatic mission, reflecting the Trump administration’s priorities in the region.
In a rare display of direct involvement, Rubio personally witnessed a deportation operation in Panama City, where 43 migrants were returned to Colombia.
The flight carried 32 men and 11 women who had been detained by Panamanian authorities.
The US has provided Panama with nearly £2.7 million in financial assistance for such deportation flights.
The operation came amid heightened tensions over deportation cooperation, with Trump recently imposing brief penalties on Colombia for initially refusing to accept two flights.
“This is an effective way to stem the flow of illegal migration”, Rubio said from Panama.
The agreement could provide a solution for deporting Venezuelan gang members convicted of crimes in the US, should Venezuela refuse to accept them.
The Trump administration has prioritised preventing migrants from reaching the United States.
Officials have been working with regional countries to enhance immigration enforcement along their borders.
One proposal under consideration is a “safe third country” agreement with El Salvador, allowing non-Salvadoran migrants in the US to be deported there.
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The arrangement forms part of the administration’s broader strategy to strengthen immigration enforcement through partnerships with Central American nations.
Human rights activists have warned that El Salvador lacks consistent policies for handling asylum seekers and refugees.
They cautioned the agreement might not be limited to violent criminals.
Manuel Flores, secretary general of the opposition Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, criticised the plan, saying it would make the region Washington’s “backyard to dump the garbage”.
The agreement comes amid significant changes at USAID, with Rubio becoming acting administrator of the agency.
USAID will no longer operate independently but will be run by the State Department, though this status may face legal challenges.
Thousands of USAID employees have already been laid off and programmes shut down.
“Mass migration is one of the great tragedies in the modern era”, Rubio declared. “It impacts countries throughout the world”.
The Secretary of State acknowledged the human cost of migration, noting that many migrants become victims during their journey.
He emphasised the importance of partnerships like those with Panama in addressing migration challenges.
“We recognise that many of the people who seek mass migration are often victims and victimised along the way, and it’s not good for anyone”, Rubio said.