U.S. Allocates $6 Million to El Salvador for Detaining Venezuelan Gang Suspects
The U.S. is allocating $6 million to El Salvador for the detention of 238 Venezuelan gang suspects, highlighting this cost as significantly lower than housing them in U.S. prisons. The suspects are affiliated with Tren de Aragua, recently designated a terrorist organization. El Salvador’s President Bukele stated this arrangement places a considerable burden on his country, despite the low fee from the U.S. Trump has invoked historical deportation laws to facilitate this process.
The Trump administration has committed approximately $6 million to El Salvador for the detention of 238 Venezuelan suspects identified as gang members. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt detailed this allocation, emphasizing that the cost is minimal in comparison to the expenses that would arise from housing these individuals in U.S. maximum-security prisons.
Leavitt remarked, quoting a popular song, that although the Venezuelans “don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here,” they will be returning to El Salvador. The suspects are linked to the Tren de Aragua, a group recently labeled as a foreign terrorist organization by former President Trump.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele acknowledged on social media that the suspects were transferred to the Terrorism Confinement Center for a renewable one-year term. He noted that while the U.S. pays a minimal amount, the burden falls significantly on El Salvador.
Additionally, Trump applied the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 for the first time since World War II to facilitate these deportations. He expressed gratitude towards President Bukele for his cooperation, criticizing the Democrats and implying the deportation of domestic criminals might also be a viable option in the future.
In summary, the U.S. government’s decision to fund the detention of Venezuelan gang suspects in El Salvador demonstrates a strategic approach to managing international criminal elements. While the allocated $6 million may seem modest, it reflects significant impacts on both U.S. taxpayers and foreign policy dynamics in dealing with terrorism. This operation underscores ongoing collaborations between the United States and El Salvador under President Bukele’s regime, particularly in addressing criminal activities and security concerns.
Original Source: nypost.com
