He emphasized that no other country has made such a friendly offer, expressing gratitude for Bukele's proposal.

El Salvador's prisons, including a new facility designed to hold 40,000 gang members, have been criticized for harsh conditions and lack of basic human rights protections.

Rubio's visit to El Salvador follows a U.S.-funded deportation flight from Panama to Colombia, highlighting ongoing issues surrounding U.S. immigration and the treatment of deportees.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced that El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has offered to accept deportees from the U.S., including American criminals imprisoned in the U.S.

Rubio described the financial arrangement for this agreement as low for the U.S. but significant for El Salvador, ensuring the sustainability of its prison system.

While Rubio was abroad, USAID staff faced barriers to accessing their headquarters due to a governmental restructuring, resulting in significant layoffs and program closures.

The U.S. aims to curb migration through such agreements as part of a broader strategy to enforce immigration laws and reduce the influx of migrants into the U.S.

Rubio's trip to El Salvador is part of a broader five-nation tour aimed at bolstering immigration enforcement, coinciding with a freeze on U.S. foreign assistance and restructuring of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Rubio characterized mass migration as a significant global tragedy, acknowledging the victims of this crisis and the impact on communities worldwide.

Former President Donald Trump expressed support for El Salvador's proposal while acknowledging potential legal challenges, indicating that further legal review is necessary before any commitments are made.

Legal experts have raised concerns regarding the feasibility of deporting American citizens, as U.S. law generally prohibits this under the 14th Amendment.

Opposition leader Manuel Flores criticized the plan, suggesting it positions El Salvador as a dumping ground for U.S. criminals.