President Donald Trump extends an invitation to El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele for a significant diplomatic meeting in Washington.
According to Breitbart, Trump has formally invited Bukele to the White House for an official working visit on April 14, 2025, praising the Central American leader's cooperation in combating illegal immigration and housing dangerous gang members.
The invitation follows a successful partnership between the two nations, which has resulted in the deportation of hundreds of illegal migrants with suspected ties to the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua terrorist organization and MS-13 gang to El Salvador since March. These deportees are currently held in El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a maximum-security facility constructed in 2023.
The collaboration between the United States and El Salvador has been facilitated through Trump's implementation of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. This legislative tool has enabled the deportation of dangerous criminals, including confirmed murderers and high-profile offenders.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently conducted a diplomatic visit to El Salvador, touring the CECOT facility and meeting with President Bukele. The visit culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation to enhance the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement (SAFE) program.
The agreement ensures better sharing of criminal records between both nations, preventing the inadvertent release of dangerous individuals in either country. This development marks a significant step forward in bilateral security cooperation.
President Trump shared his appreciation for Bukele in a statement, specifically highlighting El Salvador's willingness to accommodate criminals who entered the United States during the Biden administration. Trump wrote:
With the assistance of friends like you, we have made great progress in protecting Americans from illegal border activity. Also of great importance to our partnership is your willingness to use El Salvador's new supermax prison for Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gang members. You have shown real leadership and are a model for others seeking to work with the United States.
The arrangement has sparked criticism from Venezuela's socialist government, which has compared the practice to slavery and Nazi concentration camps. However, both administrations maintain their commitment to the program.
El Salvador has received 22 U.S. deportation flights carrying Salvadoran migrants throughout 2025 as of late March. These operations demonstrate the practical implementation of the bilateral agreement.
The most recent deportation flight in late March included 17 individuals identified as serious offenders, comprising six child rapists and members of both Tren de Aragua and MS-13 organizations. This operation exemplifies the focused approach to removing dangerous criminals from U.S. soil.
President Bukele has acknowledged that while the United States pays a modest fee for housing the deportees, the cost to El Salvador remains significant. Despite this financial aspect, both nations appear committed to maintaining their security partnership.
President Trump's invitation to Bukele for an April 14 White House visit represents a culmination of successful bilateral cooperation in addressing illegal immigration and transnational crime.
The partnership between the United States and El Salvador has resulted in the deportation and detention of hundreds of dangerous criminals, utilizing El Salvador's CECOT facility as a key component of their joint security strategy. This meeting is expected to explore additional ways the two nations can support each other's efforts in maintaining regional security and combating criminal organizations.
