President Donald Trump said he is seriously considering a plan to deport violent American citizens to prisons in El Salvador, calling the idea "something I would love to do," despite widespread legal and ethical concerns.
On April 14, during a meeting with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele at the White House, Trump praised the country's controversial mega-prison, the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), for its strict and uncompromising approach to crime. Trump said the U.S. would help fund such facilities and hinted at wanting to do more than just support prison construction abroad.
In a follow-up Fox News interview, Trump floated the possibility of sending U.S.-born criminals to be incarcerated in those facilities.
Trump to Fox on deporting Americans to a gulag in El Salvador: "We want to do it. I would love to do that." pic.twitter.com/ZOea5UzCwj
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 15, 2025
In an interview with Fox News host Rachel Campos Duffy, Trump reiterated his interest in removing what he called "home-grown criminals" from American communities—individuals he accused of committing violent acts like subway shoving attacks and unprovoked assaults.
"We are looking into it and we want to do it. I would love to do that," Trump said.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed during a press briefing that the administration is looking into the legality of such a move, specifying it would target the most dangerous, repeat offenders.
DOOCY: Deporting American citizens to Central American prisons -- is it legal?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 15, 2025
LEAVITT: Well, it's another question that the president has raised. It's a legal question that the president is looking into. pic.twitter.com/nvMPBVeGW6
The proposal has sparked immediate backlash from legal experts, human rights advocates and political opponents who argue that deporting U.S. citizens to foreign prisons is unconstitutional and unprecedented.
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