(The Hill) – President Trump said on Sunday he would “love” to send American inmates to El Salvador’s mega-prison but first needs to check if it’s legal.
Speaking with reporters on Air Force One, Trump was asked whether he plans to discuss El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s offer to take in and house American prisoners with him.
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In this photo provided by El Salvador’s presidential press office, prison guards transfer deportees from the U.S., alleged to be Venezuelan gang members, to the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, March 16, 2025. (El Salvador presidential press office via AP, File)
“Well, I love that,” Trump said. “If we could take some of our 20-time wise guys that push people into subways and that hit people over the back of the head and that purposely run people over in cars — if he would take them, I would be honored to give them.”
“I don’t know what the law says on that, but I can’t imagine the law would say anything different,” he said. “If they can house these horrible criminals for a lot less money than it costs us, I’m all for it, but I would only do according to the law.”
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“I think if we could get El Salvador or somebody to take them I’d be very happy with it. But I have to see what the law says,” Trump added.
Trump has faced criticism and legal battles over the execution of his deal with Bukele to deport accused gang members from the U.S. and have them housed in El Salvador’s mega-prison.
The Trump administration last week deported another group of men it claims were all members of the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs. A White House official said this latest deportation was carried out under immigration authorities, not the Alien Enemies Act. The White House has been sued over its use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants and has been ordered to suspend deportations under it.
