Bukele Strikes Back: A No-Nonsense Move on Gang Deportations
Things are heating up in Central America. President Bukele isn’t holding back. Two flights landed carrying nearly 250 to 300 gang members. That’s right—the infamous Tren de Aragua from Venezuela and other dangerous criminals.
Even after a U.S. judge’s emergency order, these deportees made their way to El Salvador. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg called the shots, but Bukele’s reaction was pure mockery. As he joked online, “Oopsie…Too late” in response to a New York Post headline that nailed the drama. Sometimes, sending a message takes no sugarcoating.
The stakes are high. President Trump had already set things in motion by invoking the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. This bold move sent over 250 gang members back to El Salvador. And President Bukele welcomed them with open arms… well, almost. The gang members were promptly sorted, restrained and taken to CECOT, El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, where their fate is sealed for a year—maybe more.
In a dramatic display, Bukele even shared video footage. The deportees arrived at night, being taken off the planes in heavy security. Their heads were shaved by masked guards—a clear sign that nothing about this operation is ordinary.
Here’s Bukele’s full statement that sums up the operation:
Today, the first 238 members of the Venezuelan criminal organization, Tren de Aragua, arrived in our country. They were immediately transferred to CECOT, the Terrorism Confinement Center, for a period of one year (renewable).
The United States will pay a very low fee for them, but a high one for us.
Over time, these actions, combined with the production already being generated by more than 40,000 inmates engaged in various workshops and labor under the Zero Idleness program, will help make our prison system self-sustainable. As of today, it costs $200 million per year.
On this occasion, the U.S. has also sent us 23 MS-13 members wanted by Salvadoran justice, including two ringleaders. One of them is a member of the criminal organization’s highest structure.
This will help us finalize intelligence gathering and go after the last remnants of MS-13, including its former and new members, money, weapons, drugs, hideouts, collaborators, and sponsors.
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.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is right on the money. He confirmed key details. “We have sent 2 dangerous top MS-13 leaders plus 21 of its most wanted back to face justice in El Salvador. Also, as promised by
@POTUS, 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. President @nayibbukele is not only the strongest security leader in our region, he’s also a great friend of the U.S. Thank you!”
Rubio didn’t stop there. He added, “Thank you for your assistance and friendship, President Bukele.”
This isn’t just about deporting criminals. It’s about taking a strong stand against rampant lawlessness. In a time when border security and national safety are hot topics, Argentina’s strong action makes a bold statement. The operation is seen as a win for cooperation and tougher anti-crime policies.
Last month, under President Trump’s lead, Rubio headed to El Salvador to meet with Bukele. That meeting pushed the deportation plan into high gear. Check out the official readout from the State Department:
Readout
Office of the Spokesperson
February 3, 2025The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele in San Salvador. It was a tremendously successful meeting that will make both countries stronger, safer, and more prosperous.
Multiple agreements were struck to fight the waves of illegal mass migration currently destabilizing the entire region. President Bukele agreed to take back all Salvadoran MS-13 gang members who are in the United States unlawfully. He also promised to accept and incarcerate violent illegal immigrants, including members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, but also criminal illegal migrants from any country. And in an extraordinary gesture never before extended by any country, President Bukele offered to house in his jails dangerous American criminals, including U.S. citizens and legal residents.
Secretary Rubio and President Bukele concluded a civil nuclear cooperation MOU, which was signed by the Secretary and Salvadoran Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill Tinoco hours later.
Secretary Rubio informed President Bukele that the United States will issue a waiver to unfreeze assistance to support the two countries’ joint work to detect suspicious travelers at El Salvador’s National Passenger Analysis Center (CNAP), resume operations at El Salvador’s Border Security Information Group (GCIF), and support El Salvador’s vetted units working with U.S. law enforcement.
Secretary Rubio also raised strategies to counter the influence of the Chinese Communist Party in the hemisphere to safeguard the sovereignty and interests of both nations and the region.
At its core, this is about putting national safety first. Bukele’s tough stance sends a clear message: criminals don’t get a free pass. And for those who back strong border and crime-fighting policies, it’s a win-win. The operation not only strengthens security but also brings some much-needed revenue and intelligence to El Salvador.
Whether you agree with the hard-hitting methods or not, one thing is clear—the fight against organized crime is far from over. The joint efforts of both leaders underscore the kind of decisive action that many believe is needed in today’s turbulent political climate.
The bottom line? Tough measures often come with tough public reactions. And in this case, Bukele is standing tall alongside allies like Rubio. The message to criminals and detractors is blunt and unapologetic. As this story develops, all eyes will remain on how these policies shape security in both nations.
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