El Salvador Takes in 238 Deported 'Tren de Aragua Members', Says U.S. Will Pay 'Very Low Fee'

El Salvador officially took in 238 alleged members of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang this week, fulfilling part of a controversial deal between President Nayib Bukele and the Trump administration. Under the agreement, El Salvador will house around 300 deported gang members in its Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) for at least a year—all for $6 million, a price that Bukele described as "very low" for the U.S., but a "high one" for his own country.

The transfer, confirmed by Bukele in a social media post, is one of the first instances of El Salvador accepting deported "criminal" migrants from the U.S. Along with the alleged Tren de Aragua members, the U.S. also deported 23 alleged MS-13 gang members, including two high-ranking leaders wanted in El Salvador.

A video shared with Bukele's announcement shows federal agents from both countries handling the incoming prisoners roughly. Armed soldiers escort the alleged gang members into the prison, where they're shaved and sent into what look like overcrowded cells.

Bukele's Prison Economy

Bukele framed the move as a win-win. He emphasized that these deportations would not only help his government crack down on gang activity but also contribute to making El Salvador's prison system self-sustaining.

"As always, we continue advancing in the fight against organized crime. But this time, we are also helping our allies, making our prison system self-sustainable, and obtaining vital intelligence to make our country an even safer place. All in a single action.

May God bless El Salvador, and may God bless the United States."

El Salvador's mega-prison, built to house up to 40,000 inmates, has been a centerpiece of Bukele's tough-on-crime policies. His administration has used mass incarceration as a primary tool to dismantle criminal organizations, drawing both praise and criticism for its effectiveness and human rights concerns.

Trump Officials Celebrate Deportations

Back in Washington, Trump officials hailed the deportation as a major victory in their crackdown on criminal migrants.

Border Czar Thomas Homan accused the Biden administration of previously allowing Tren de Aragua members to roam freely, alleging they committed violent crimes across the U.S.

"Now, thanks to the American people, we have President Trump!" Homan said in a statement. "Last night, 238 Tren de Aragua members, along with 21 MS-13 gang members, were deported from this country. With each criminal illegal alien being deported, neighborhoods are becoming safer."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that sentiment, thanking Bukele for his cooperation and calling him "the strongest security leader in our region."

"As promised... we sent over 250 alien enemy members of Tren de Aragua which El Salvador has agreed to hold in their very good jails at a fair price that will also save our taxpayer dollars."

But Are They Really Criminals?

While Trump officials portray the deportees as hardened criminals, some political observers are skeptical. Critics argue that the U.S. government may be labeling migrants as "Tren de Aragua" members with little evidence.

Immigration attorney, John R. De La Vega, questioned the accuracy of these classifications via his X account, sharing a collage of common tattoos allegedly linked to the gang. He went on to advise people to avoid any of those "innocent" tattoos, as "they could be the only factor the government uses to label you as a [Tren de Aragua] member."

An X user shared De La Vega's photo saying, "The U.S. considers that having any of these tattoos (which are pretty common) makes you part of the so-called 'Tren de Aragua.' We're about to see thousands of innocent people thrown into maximum-security prisons in El Salvador."

The Bigger Picture: Trump's Mass Deportation Plan Hits Snags

Despite Trump's push for aggressive deportations, his administration is facing logistical hurdles. A lack of detention space and massive backlogs in immigration courts are slowing down efforts.

DHS data released earlier this month revealed that ICE arrests are falling short of the White House's targets. While arrests have increased compared to the Biden administration, with 20,000 detentions in the first month, ICE is still far from the 1,200 to 1,500 daily arrest quota set by Trump officials, NPR reported.

Earlier this year, administration officials—including Homan and White House budget chief Russell Vought—urged Republican senators to approve $175 billion in new border security funding, warning that the government is running out of money to enforce Trump's immigration crackdown.

Officials now say deals like the one with El Salvador could help reduce domestic detention costs and free up space for more deportations.