On Monday, former U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to the White House. Their meeting comes as El Salvador plays an increasingly central role in the United States’ expanded deportation strategy.
Since March, El Salvador has received over 200 Venezuelan nationals deported from the U.S., many of whom were accused—without detailed public evidence—of being connected to violent criminal organizations. These individuals were placed in El Salvador’s infamous high-security prison near San Salvador, which has become a cornerstone of Bukele’s aggressive anti-gang policy. Among those held is a Maryland resident who was mistakenly deported, even though a U.S. court had ordered his return—an order that has yet to be followed.
President Bukele, whose domestic popularity remains high due to his firm stance against gangs, has become a key figure in Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts. Despite lacking transparency about the identities or specific charges against the deported Venezuelans, the Trump administration has praised Bukele’s cooperation.
When asked about conditions at the prison where the deportees are being held, Trump responded that Bukele was doing a “fantastic job,” describing the detainees as “very bad people” and adding that housing them in El Salvador saved the U.S. significant costs.
Since a February visit by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Bukele’s administration has demonstrated clear alignment with U.S. deportation policies. The Salvadoran government agreed to a deal under which the U.S. would provide $6 million to fund the imprisonment of Venezuelan detainees for one year. When a U.S. judge attempted to reverse a deportation flight midair, Bukele responded on social media with a sarcastic, “Oopsie… too late.”
Despite earlier legal challenges, the U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed Trump to invoke the centuries-old Alien Enemies Act to continue deporting immigrants, though it required that each receive a hearing. Over the weekend, ten more suspected members of MS-13 and Tren de Aragua gangs were deported to El Salvador, according to Rubio.
Rubio emphasized during a Cabinet meeting that Bukele had proven to be “a valuable partner,” praising him for accepting individuals considered extremely dangerous. Trump also floated the controversial idea of El Salvador accepting American citizens convicted of violent crimes, though he added that it would only be done within legal bounds—a proposition that raises serious legal and constitutional questions.
One high-profile case involves Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a dual Salvadoran-American who was deported despite a U.S. court ruling barring his removal due to fears of gang retaliation. Though the Supreme Court has ordered his return, the Trump administration has argued that it’s obligated only to “facilitate” the return, not carry it out. Trump later stated he would comply with the court’s order if explicitly instructed by the justices.
Meanwhile, government filings over the weekend confirmed that Abrego Garcia remains in El Salvador, and no new efforts to bring him back were disclosed.
Top Trump adviser Stephen Miller indicated that the administration would not pressure El Salvador to return Abrego Garcia, stating that such decisions rest solely with the Salvadoran government.
Bukele’s anti-gang measures, which include a state of emergency in effect for over three years, have drawn both praise and criticism. His government constructed a vast prison in Tecoluca, just outside the capital, to house thousands of suspected gang members. As part of the deal with the U.S., Bukele also requested that Salvadoran gang leaders be returned from American prisons to face justice in El Salvador—calling it a matter of national honor.
The Salvadoran president may also use the visit to negotiate relief from a 10% tariff recently imposed by the U.S., arguing that it hurts an economy already under strain.
César Ríos, head of the El Salvador Immigrant Agenda Association, stressed that the bilateral talks should lead to real policy outcomes that benefit Salvadorans abroad and at home—not just political theater.
Both Trump and Bukele are known for their strongman leadership styles and media-savvy personas. Though from different generations, they share a confrontational approach to the press and opposition institutions.
Bukele assumed office during Trump’s presidency and maintained a relatively straightforward relationship with the White House. Under Bukele’s administration, the number of Salvadorans attempting to cross into the U.S. declined notably. However, his ties with Washington became strained under President Biden, who has criticized Bukele for anti-democratic tendencies.
Ahead of Bukele’s arrival in D.C., the U.S. State Department lowered its travel advisory for El Salvador to Level 1—the safest category—highlighting the steep drop in violent crime and gang-related activity over the past three years.
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