US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) meets with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele at his residence at Lake Coatepeque in El Congo municipality, El Salvador, on February 3, 2025. Agence France-Presse
SAN SALVADOR — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele made the extraordinary offer to take in prisoners with US citizenship sent from the United States.
There is virtually no precedent in contemporary times for a democratic country to send its own citizens to foreign jails.
Article continues after this advertisementBut Rubio said Bukele, who has launched a sweeping crackdown on crime that has won him popularity at home and hero status in President Donald Trump’s circles, offered to do just that in their meeting earlier in the day.
FEATURED STORIES GLOBALNATION China denies hacking phone of PH envoy to US GLOBALNATION Crews return to Potomac River to recover wreckage from midair collision GLOBALNATION Baby face obsession: Why South Koreans strive to look youngerREAD: Marco Rubio wins unanimous nod to be top US diplomat
“He has offered to house in his jails dangerous American criminals in custody in our country, including those with US citizenship and legal residency,” Rubio told reporters.
Article continues after this advertisement“No country’s ever made an offer of friendship such as this,” Rubio said.
“It has been a profound honor to serve as President of ADB,” Asakawa was quoted as saying by the Manila-based multilateral lender.
Miguel Mapa, founder and chief executive of Nextnorth Holdings Corp., said that while the sector continued to deal with “familiar challenges” such as grid connectivity, capital funding and permitting woes, his bullishness about the industry’s growth remained.
Article continues after this advertisement“We are profoundly grateful. I spoke to President Trump about this earlier today,” he said.
Article continues after this advertisementRubio appeared to suggest that the prison transfer would focus on members of Latin American gangs such as El Salvador’s MS-13 and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua who have acquired US citizenship.
READ: Rubio lays down ultimatum to Panama over canal
mentos4d slot Article continues after this advertisement“Any unlawful immigrant and illegal immigrant United States who is a dangerous criminal — MS-13, Tren de Aragua, whatever it may be — he has offered his jails,” Rubio said.
Trump has sought to crack down on the right to birthright citizenship, which is enshrined in the US Constitution.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter