Overview

• Donald Trump has reiterated his support for transferring incarcerated U.S. citizens to El Salvador's prisons, citing potential financial benefits.
• Trump acknowledged uncertainty about the legality of such a move but expressed enthusiasm for the proposal offered by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele.
• Legal experts argue that deporting U.S. citizens to foreign prisons violates the U.S. Constitution, including the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments, as well as international law.
• The Trump administration has not disclosed details of its agreement with El Salvador, including a reported $6 million payment, raising concerns about transparency.
• This proposal follows the administration's controversial deportation of Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador in March 2025, some of whom lacked criminal records and were allegedly targeted for tattoos.