El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has proposed to the United States that his country be allowed to house not only deported migrants but also dangerous criminals convicted in the U.S.
This proposal came after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Bukele emphasized that El Salvador is prepared to offer prison rentals, including its largest mega-prison, Cecot, which can house up to 40,000 inmates. In exchange for such a service, El Salvador expects financial compensation to help maintain the stability of its system.
Bukele also expressed his willingness to accept migrants deported from the U.S., including those convicted of crimes, regardless of their nationality. Rubio highly appreciated this proposal, noting that no country had ever made such a “friendly gesture” before. Cecot, opened in 2023, is the largest prison in El Salvador, housing those convicted of the most serious crimes. As of June 2024, it housed fewer than 15,000 inmates.
The idea of renting prisons and immigration centers is not new. From 2009 to 2016, Belgium rented cells in Dutch prisons, and in 2015, Norway sent some of its prisoners to the Netherlands. The example of Australia with its immigration centers in Nauru and Papua New Guinea is also well-known, although this practice has been subject to international criticism.
