US government recently sent hundreds of irregular immigrants to a maximum central country security prison, invoking the 1798 foreign enemies law
Nayib Bukele, president Salvadorenho, said on Monday (14) during a meeting with NA, that he is willing to help the US with immigration. Recently, the US President arrested hundreds of US immigrants deported on the charges of being members of gangs. The visit started with a handshake and ended with Bukele making the positive signal when questioned by journalists about how the meeting went. “They are helping us. We thank you for that,” said Trump, surrounded by the high summit of his office, including US diplomacy chief Marco Rubio, internal security secretary Kristi Noem and US Attorney General Pam Bondi.
During the friendly meeting, Bukele, who also wages a war against gangs, opined that Trump needs to release 350 million Americans from criminals, but to happen, it needs to arrest some. “That’s how it works, isn’t it?” Trump agreed. There was also agreement on the fate of immigrant SalvadoRenho Kilmar Ábargo García, deported “by mistake,” according to the American administration. “I don’t have that power.” The American justice asks the government to facilitate its return, but the White House disagrees.
The journalists questioned Bukele about the case. “How can I send it back to the United States? As if I were clandestinely entering it in the United States? (…) I don’t have the power to send it back to the United States,” said the Salvadoran President.
The government sent hundreds of irregular immigrants, especially Venezuelans, to a maximum security arrest, invoking the 1798 foreign enemies law, which had until then was only used in times of war.
Trump administration accuses them of being part of gangs. For the first group, with more than 200 people, the US government paid six million dollars ($ 35 million) to El Salvador, according to the White House. The last one, with 10 people, arrived over the weekend.
When asked, the US president said he will send more immigrants to jail. He also does not rule out expelling American citizens. “I am in favor, because we can do things with the president for less money and have great security. And we have a huge prison population,” explained the Republican tycoon, although he has pointed out that the legal viability is being examined.
The meeting takes place amid Trump’s ‘tariff’, from which El Salvador did not escape. The United States is the main destination for the exports of El Salvador, an ultrasecuro country, according to the State Department, which this month ranked its level 2 classification, which shared with countries like Spain, to level 1, the best. The 2.5 million Salvadorens living in the US are a pillar for the economy of the Central American country through the shipments they send (23% of GDP in 2024).
*With information from AFP
Posted by Nátaly Tenório
