Central American state suggests housing US inmates

(MENAFN) El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, has proposed that the United States outsource part of its prison system to his country, offering to house dangerous American criminals in the notorious mega-jail built as part of his crackdown on gang violence. Bukele suggested the idea during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who later revealed the proposal, expressing gratitude for the offer.

Bukele's plan would involve housing convicted criminals, including US citizens and legal residents, in El Salvador's maximum-security prison, the terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), for a fee. The facility, which can hold up to 40,000 inmates, is one of the largest in the world and was opened in 2023 as part of Bukele’s efforts to combat organized crime. While the offer would provide El Salvador with a significant revenue stream, it has been criticized by international human rights groups due to the harsh conditions in CECOT.

In addition to this proposal, El Salvador has agreed to support the US’s efforts to combat illegal migration by taking in deported migrants and criminals from transnational gangs, such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. Despite criticism of his “iron fist” approach, Bukele claims that his policies have significantly reduced gang violence in the country.

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