The Trump administration is paying El Salvador $6 million to detain 238 Venezuelan gang suspects, citing this cost as significantly lower than housing them in U.S. prisons. The suspects are linked to the Tren de Aragua group, designated as terrorists, and were transferred to a special confinement center in El Salvador. President Bukele emphasized the high costs to his country, while Trump attributed the situation to Democrats’ failures, initiating deportations via a historic law.
The Trump administration has allocated approximately $6 million to El Salvador for the detention of 238 Venezuelan gang suspects who were deported recently. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that this amount is minimal compared to the potential costs to American taxpayers of housing these individuals in U.S. maximum security prisons.
Leavitt made a reference to the song “Closing Time,” stating that while the Venezuelans might not be able to stay in the United States, they will not return home. The deportees are linked to the Tren de Aragua criminal organization, which was designated as a foreign terrorist group by Trump the previous month.
President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador confirmed that the suspects have been transferred to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) for a renewable one-year term. He noted that the financial burden on the U.S. for housing these individuals is significantly lower than the impact on El Salvador, where harsh penalties for criminals, including gang affiliates, have been instituted.
On a related note, Trump utilized the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite the deportations, a historic action not seen since World War II. He expressed gratitude towards Bukele for his cooperation, attributing the situation to alleged failures by the current Democratic leadership, indicating a desire to confront what he terms domestic threats by considering deportations of U.S. offenders to El Salvador.
In summary, the recent agreement between the Trump administration and El Salvador to detain Venezuelan gang suspects for $6 million underscores a controversial strategy aimed at managing perceived threats tied to criminal organizations. This arrangement not only reflects substantial financial calculations but also highlights the complexities of international cooperation in addressing crime and security. The broader implications may affect U.S. domestic policies and foreign relations moving forward.
Original Source: nypost.com
