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In a statement accompanying the video, Bukele confirmed the arrival of 238 members of Tren de Aragua, explaining that they would be locked away for at least a year, with the possibility of renewal. “The United States will pay a very low fee for them, but a high one for us,” he noted, adding that El Salvador’s prison system, already benefiting from tens of thousands of inmates working under the Zero Idleness program, was on its way to becoming self-sustainable. “As of today, it costs $200 million per year.”
Beyond the Venezuelan criminals, the U.S. also sent 23 MS-13 members back to El Salvador, including two major leaders. Bukele emphasized that their return would help authorities dismantle the remaining pieces of the criminal network, stating that intelligence gathered from these individuals would assist in tracking down “its former and new members, money, weapons, drugs, hideouts, collaborators, and sponsors.”
“As always, we continue advancing in the fight against organized crime,” Bukele declared. “But this time, we are also helping our allies, making our prison system self-sustainable, and obtaining vital intelligence to make our country an even safer place. All in a single action.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed Bukele’s praise, confirming that the flights included some of the most dangerous criminals on record. “We have sent 2 dangerous top MS-13 leaders plus 21 of its most wanted back to face justice in El Salvador,” Rubio stated. “Also, as promised by @POTUS, we sent over 250 alien enemy members of Tren de Aragua which El Salvador has agreed to hold in their very good jails at a fair price that will also save our taxpayer dollars. President @nayibbukele is not only the strongest security leader in our region, he’s also a great friend of the U.S. Thank you!”
Rubio’s appreciation didn’t end there. “Thank you for your assistance and friendship, President Bukele,” he added.
The deportations come just weeks after Rubio, under President Trump’s orders, visited El Salvador for a high-stakes meeting with Bukele. The visit resulted in an unprecedented agreement that strengthened security ties between the two nations. As detailed in a State Department statement, the two leaders finalized multiple deals targeting mass illegal migration and gang activity. Bukele committed to taking back all Salvadoran MS-13 gang members unlawfully present in the U.S. while also agreeing to incarcerate violent illegal immigrants from any country.
But perhaps the most shocking development was Bukele’s offer to house dangerous American criminals in his jails, including U.S. citizens and legal residents. No other nation has ever made such an offer.
The cooperation didn’t stop there. Rubio and Bukele also signed a civil nuclear cooperation memorandum of understanding, with the agreement later formalized by Salvadoran Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill Tinoco. The U.S. reciprocated by issuing a waiver to unfreeze aid supporting El Salvador’s border security efforts, reinforcing intelligence-sharing programs and restoring operations at key border security units.
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On the international stage, Rubio also pressed Bukele on strategies to counter the influence of the Chinese Communist Party in the region, signaling a broader effort to protect sovereignty and regional stability.
With criminals locked up, security strengthened, and international alliances growing, Bukele’s bold approach to law and order continues to make waves. And as the failed legal maneuver by the ACLU and Judge James Boasberg proved, the Salvadoran president remains one step ahead in the fight against crime.
