The Donald Trump administration is exploring a proposal to detain and deport violent US citizens to prisons in El Salvador, sparking a fierce legal and constitutional debate in Washington and abroad.
In a recent conversation with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele , Donald Trump floated the idea of sending “homegrown criminals” to El Salvador’s high-security CECOT mega-prison. “The homegrowns are next, the homegrowns. You've got to build about five more places,” Trump said, adding that the move would only be pursued “if legal.” He added, “We always have to obey the laws, but we also have homegrown criminals that push people into subways, that hit elderly ladies on the back of the head with a baseball bat when they're not looking, that are absolute monsters.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that only the most violent repeat offenders would be considered for the controversial proposal. “Trump would only consider this, if legal, for Americans who are the most violent, egregious, repeat offenders of crime who nobody in this room wants living in their communities,” she said.
Legal experts have widely condemned the idea as unconstitutional. “Obviously unconstitutional, obviously illegal,” said David Bier of the libertarian Cato Institute, noting that US law does not authorise deportation of its own citizens. He warned the administration could bypass judicial checks: “The problem of course is [Trump] already has illegally deported hundreds of people by just not giving the courts an opportunity to stop him. I think that’s the real fear, now that he is going to try to evade judicial review of deportations of US citizens.”
Harvard legal scholar Laurence Tribe described the proposal as an unprecedented threat to civil liberties. “What that means is that literally any of us… is vulnerable to basically being kidnapped by masked agents of the United States government… never to be seen again,” he told NPR.
Despite the backlash, El Salvador's President Bukele has shown willingness to receive US prisoners. “Yeah, we’ve got space,” he said. Earlier this year, Bukele had floated the idea of housing convicted US citizens for a fee—an offer Trump and allies like Elon Musk publicly backed. “I’d do it in a heartbeat,” Trump said at the time.
The policy debate has taken a personal turn with the controversial deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Maryland resident removed from the US in March despite an active court order halting his removal. On Thursday, fresh images of Abrego Garcia emerged as Bukele posted photos of him with US Senator Chris Van Hollen, sipping margaritas in El Salvador.
“Now that he’s been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador’s custody,” Bukele posted on X. “Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the ‘death camps’ & ‘torture’, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!🍹”
Senator Van Hollen, who travelled to El Salvador this week, said he met Abrego Garcia on Thursday and phoned his wife to “pass along his message of love.” He had earlier been blocked from visiting the CECOT prison, where Abrego Garcia was believed to have been held. “They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed,” Van Hollen said.
The Trump administration has since admitted the deportation was a “mistake,” and the US Supreme Court has urged officials to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return. But El Salvador’s Vice President Félix Ulloa reportedly told Van Hollen that their government has no intention of sending him back.
In a recent conversation with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele , Donald Trump floated the idea of sending “homegrown criminals” to El Salvador’s high-security CECOT mega-prison. “The homegrowns are next, the homegrowns. You've got to build about five more places,” Trump said, adding that the move would only be pursued “if legal.” He added, “We always have to obey the laws, but we also have homegrown criminals that push people into subways, that hit elderly ladies on the back of the head with a baseball bat when they're not looking, that are absolute monsters.”
President Trump was caught on a live stream from the Oval Office Monday, telling the president of El Salvador he'd like to send Americans committed of crimes to prisons in El Salvador.
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) April 15, 2025
"Homegrowns are next," Trump said. pic.twitter.com/r0dTN6lwUo
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that only the most violent repeat offenders would be considered for the controversial proposal. “Trump would only consider this, if legal, for Americans who are the most violent, egregious, repeat offenders of crime who nobody in this room wants living in their communities,” she said.
Legal experts have widely condemned the idea as unconstitutional. “Obviously unconstitutional, obviously illegal,” said David Bier of the libertarian Cato Institute, noting that US law does not authorise deportation of its own citizens. He warned the administration could bypass judicial checks: “The problem of course is [Trump] already has illegally deported hundreds of people by just not giving the courts an opportunity to stop him. I think that’s the real fear, now that he is going to try to evade judicial review of deportations of US citizens.”
Harvard legal scholar Laurence Tribe described the proposal as an unprecedented threat to civil liberties. “What that means is that literally any of us… is vulnerable to basically being kidnapped by masked agents of the United States government… never to be seen again,” he told NPR.
Despite the backlash, El Salvador's President Bukele has shown willingness to receive US prisoners. “Yeah, we’ve got space,” he said. Earlier this year, Bukele had floated the idea of housing convicted US citizens for a fee—an offer Trump and allies like Elon Musk publicly backed. “I’d do it in a heartbeat,” Trump said at the time.
The policy debate has taken a personal turn with the controversial deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Maryland resident removed from the US in March despite an active court order halting his removal. On Thursday, fresh images of Abrego Garcia emerged as Bukele posted photos of him with US Senator Chris Van Hollen, sipping margaritas in El Salvador.
“Now that he’s been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador’s custody,” Bukele posted on X. “Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the ‘death camps’ & ‘torture’, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!🍹”
Now that he’s been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador’s custody 🇺🇸🤝🏼🇸🇻 https://t.co/2xVt4SNOGn
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) April 18, 2025
Senator Van Hollen, who travelled to El Salvador this week, said he met Abrego Garcia on Thursday and phoned his wife to “pass along his message of love.” He had earlier been blocked from visiting the CECOT prison, where Abrego Garcia was believed to have been held. “They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed,” Van Hollen said.
The Trump administration has since admitted the deportation was a “mistake,” and the US Supreme Court has urged officials to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return. But El Salvador’s Vice President Félix Ulloa reportedly told Van Hollen that their government has no intention of sending him back.
You may also like
Gogglebox stars left disgusted as they react to Mickey Rourke's vile CBB comments
Samsung 65-inch TV labelled 'incredible' and shoppers find way to get it for less
'Fir Se Natak Chalu': Netizens Call Out Anupamaa Makers As Raahi Blasts Anupamaa For Saving 'Criminal' Raghav In New Promo
Kyren Wilson's heartbreaking admission after taking barman job during snooker struggles
Nothing to ramp up exports from India amid global trade uncertainty: CEO
