Donald Trump is set to meet with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele at the White House as the Central American country becomes a focal point of the U.S. administration’s mass deportation efforts.
Since March, El Salvador has accepted over 200 Venezuelan immigrants from the U.S., whom Trump administration officials have labeled gang members and violent criminals, placing them inside the country’s notorious high-security gang prison, Cecot, located just outside the capital, San Salvador.
This development has made Bukele, regarded as the most powerful leader in contemporary El Salvador, a crucial ally for the Trump administration.
Despite the administration’s claims regarding the deported immigrants, it has provided little evidence to substantiate its accusations and has not disclosed the names of those deported.
Bukele secured a convincing victory in last year’s elections, with voters prioritizing security over concerns about democratic erosion, thanks to his aggressive campaign against gangs in El Salvador.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has praised the partnership between Trump and Bukele as a model for achieving security and prosperity in the region.
Trump has publicly commended Bukele for managing issues that the U.S. would struggle to address from a financial standpoint.
U.S. officials indicated in court filings that they are not obligated to assist a Maryland resident’s return from El Salvador after he was mistakenly deported, despite a Supreme Court ruling mandating the government to facilitate his return to the U.S.
The Trump administration’s attorneys argued that the Supreme Court’s requirement to ‘facilitate’ the return of Kilmar Abrego García, 29, implies only removing domestic barriers to prevent his return, rather than ensuring his extraction from El Salvador.
The administration acknowledged that García, a Salvadoran migrant living in Maryland with a valid work permit since 2019, was deported in March in violation of a judicial order blocking his removal.
The White House recognized the deportation as an ‘administrative error.’
García was among 238 Venezuelans and 23 Salvadorans deported to Cecot under a bilateral agreement.
The case draws attention to ongoing tensions between the administration and federal courts, as multiple courts have obstructed Trump’s policies, with judges expressing frustration over the administration’s compliance with court directives.
Bukele’s visit follows the recent deportation of an additional 10 individuals to El Salvador.
During their meeting, Bukele expressed eagerness to cooperate with the U.S., while Trump acknowledged the president’s assistance, emphasizing the value of their collaboration in confronting shared problems.
Trump reiterated his stance, indicating that past administrations enabled a free influx of migrants from ‘prisons and mental institutions’ in Venezuela and others,
stating that ‘hundreds of thousands and even millions’ entered the U.S.
Bukele concurred with Trump, admitting the existence of a ‘terrorism problem’ in the U.S. and his willingness to help tackle it.
The meeting proceeded in the Oval Office, with Trump greeting Bukele as a ‘friend’ and praising him for his effective crime-fighting tactics.
Simultaneously, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller refuted claims regarding García’s mistaken deportation during an interview on Fox News, describing it as a ‘hoax’ while the administration had already conceded the error in court documents.
Miller maintained that García was illegally in the U.S., stating, ‘Nobody was mistakenly sent to El Salvador,’ asserting that he belonged there.
He further claimed that the U.S. would continue to deport individuals classified as part of foreign terrorist organizations to El Salvador, insisting there would be ‘no upper limit’ on deportations under the current agreements.
While Miller did not confirm whether the administration would request Bukele to return García to the U.S., he maintained the narrative that García was an ‘illegal alien.’
Pressed by reporters on whether the administration would comply with a previous judge’s order against García’s deportation, Miller defended their actions, maintaining that there were no legal constraints.
In related news, the situation surrounding Bukele’s engagement with Trump unfolds against the backdrop of a chilling threat from a man arrested for a fire set at the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion, illustrating the chaotic landscape as political tensions escalate.
The fallout from Trump’s immigration policies is further complicated by events including the controversial detention of Dr. Badar Khan Suri, an academic held by immigration authorities and facing deportation, sparking outrage among the academic community and highlighting issues around due process and civil rights.
Zelenskyy of Ukraine has also reached out to invite Trump to witness the devastation caused by Russia’s invasion, emphasizing the need for leaders to grasp the realities faced by Ukrainians.image source from：https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/apr/14/donald-trump-tariffs-china-smartphones-computers-semiconductors-immigration-us-politics-live-updates
