U.S. Allocates $6 Million to El Salvador for Detention of Venezuelan Suspects
The Trump administration is paying $6 million to El Salvador to detain deported Venezuelan gang suspects. This cost is deemed affordable compared to housing them in U.S. prisons. President Bukele’s strict measures against crime are noted, and Trump has invoked historical laws to carry out these deportations.
The Trump administration is disbursing approximately $6 million to El Salvador for the detention of 238 Venezuelan gang suspects deported recently. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted that this expenditure is a minimal cost when compared to the financial burden of housing these individuals in U.S. prisons.
“Pennies on the dollar” is how Leavitt described the costs relative to the potential expenses incurred by American taxpayers for incarceration. She referenced lyrics from the song “Closing Time” to underscore that while the suspects will not be returning to the U.S., they do not have a permanent home.
The deportees are allegedly linked to Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization designated as a foreign terrorist group by Trump. A federal judge had interrupted their flight with an attempt to mandate their return to the United States, which ultimately did not succeed.
In response, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele announced their transfer to a specialized detention center upon arrival. He remarked that the United States is incurring a low fee while El Salvador takes on a significant burden. Bukele has implemented stringent policies against crime that have resulted in harsh penalties for gang affiliates.
President Trump utilized the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to initiate these deportations, marking its first application since World War II. Trump expressed gratitude towards Bukele and criticized current U.S. leadership for enabling what he termed as a serious criminal influx. He even suggested the possibility of deporting American criminals to foreign countries, noting the New York subway assailants as potential cases.
In summary, the Trump administration’s decision to allocate $6 million to El Salvador for the detention of Venezuelan gang suspects is framed as an economical move, significantly less than the potential costs to U.S. taxpayers. The collaboration highlights the ongoing challenges of transnational crime and the efforts being taken to address this issue through international agreements. President Bukele’s stringent measures also reflect a broader strategy to manage crime in Central America.
Original Source: nypost.com
