In a stunning move that underscores the Trump administration’s no-nonsense approach to crime, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has offered to house convicted U.S. criminals—including both illegal migrants and American citizens—inside his country’s infamous “mega-prison.” The announcement came after a high-stakes meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, signaling a new, unprecedented strategy in President Trump’s crackdown on violent crime.

Rubio, a staunch ally of President Trump, called the agreement “the most unprecedented, extraordinary migratory agreement anywhere in the world.” The deal would allow the U.S. to deport dangerous criminals—including repeat offenders and gang members—directly to El Salvador, where they would serve their sentences in one of Latin America’s most secure prison facilities.

“We can send them, and [Bukele] will put them in his jails,” Rubio stated, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to law and order. He added that this would not only apply to criminal illegal aliens but could also extend to U.S. citizens and legal residents who have racked up extensive criminal records.

Bukele’s maximum-security prison, the Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT), has gained worldwide attention for its harsh conditions and strict controls over violent criminals. Housing up to 40,000 inmates, the facility is designed specifically to handle the world’s most dangerous offenders, including members of the notorious MS-13 gang.

“We have offered the United States of America the opportunity to outsource part of its prison system,” Bukele announced on X. “We are willing to take in only convicted criminals (including convicted U.S. citizens) into our mega-prison (CECOT) in exchange for a fee.” He emphasized that while the fee would be “relatively low” for the U.S., it would be “significant” for El Salvador, making the country’s entire prison system self-sustainable.

President Trump has been vocal about his desire to remove not just illegal immigrants but also repeat offenders who have continuously endangered American communities.

“We also have many violent criminals in our country, however, that did not necessarily come here illegally but have been arrested 30 times, 35 times, 41, 42 times … for murder [and] other heinous charges,” Trump told House Republicans last week.

In a bold statement, Trump suggested he would seek to deport these career criminals, regardless of their immigration status. “If they’ve been arrested many, many times [and] they’re repeat offenders by many numbers, I want them out of our country,” he said. “We’re going to get approval, hopefully, to get them the hell out of our country.”

This hardline stance is expected to face legal challenges, as U.S. law currently does not allow for the deportation of American citizens. However, the Trump administration has shown it is not afraid to push the legal boundaries in pursuit of policies that prioritize American safety.

Predictably, left-wing politicians have remained silent or outright opposed the idea, despite the fact that violent crime continues to surge in many Democrat-run cities. Progressives have long championed lax policies on criminal justice, which have allowed dangerous offenders to roam free while innocent Americans suffer the consequences.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration failed to secure any meaningful agreements with foreign nations to address the illegal immigration crisis, a stark contrast to the decisive action taken by President Trump and Secretary Rubio.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce praised the agreement, calling it a major step toward making both nations “stronger, safer, and more prosperous.” As part of the deal, Bukele has also agreed to accept all Salvadoran MS-13 members and Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang members currently residing unlawfully in the U.S.

With the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on crime and a clear willingness to act where the left has failed, America is finally seeing a return to law and order. While Democrats continue to coddle criminals and weaken public safety, President Trump and his allies are proving once again that their priority is protecting law-abiding Americans first.