El Salvador’s iron-fisted leader on Monday offered to jail Americans so US President Donald Trump can outsource the US prison system, an extraordinary step that was hailed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
There is virtually no precedent in contemporary times for a democratic country to send its own citizens to foreign jails, and any attempt to do so is sure to be challenged in US courts.
However, Rubio welcomed an offer to do just that by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, whose sweeping crackdown on crime has won him soaring popularity at home and hero status for many in Trump’s orbit.
Photo: AFP / El Salvador’s Presidency Press Office
“He has offered to house in his jails dangerous American criminals in custody in our country, including those with US citizenship and legal residency,” Rubio told reporters in San Salvador, adding: “No country’s ever made an offer of friendship such as this.”
“We are profoundly grateful. I spoke to President Trump about this earlier today,” he said.
Bukele said that El Salvador would ask for payment and was ready to incarcerate Americans in a prison he opened a year ago that is Latin America’s largest.
“We have offered the United States of America the opportunity to outsource part of its prison system,” Bukele wrote on X after Rubio’s statement.
“The fee would be relatively low for the US but significant for us, making our entire prison system sustainable,” he wrote.
Bukele is also willing to take back Salvadorans and nationals of other countries, Rubio said.
Rubio appeared to suggest the focus in El Salvador would be on jailing members of Latin American gangs, such as El Salvador’s MS-13 and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua.
“Any unlawful immigrant and illegal immigrant in the United States who is a dangerous criminal — MS-13, Tren de Aragua, whatever it may be — he has offered his jails,” Rubio said.
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