Trump Meets El Salvador’s Bukele, Defends Prison Deportation Policy/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump welcomed El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to the White House amid deepening cooperation on mass deportations of alleged gang members. The meeting highlighted controversial migrant removals and tough stances on transgender athletes. Legal challenges are mounting over the mistaken deportation of a Maryland man to a Salvadoran megaprison.
Trump-Bukele Meeting: Quick Looks
- White House Visit: Bukele meets with Trump in Oval Office on Monday
- Deportation Pact: Over 200 deportees sent to Salvadoran mega-prison
- Garcia Case: U.S. faces legal pressure to retrieve wrongfully deported man
- Transgender Sports: Leaders express opposition to trans athletes in women’s sports
- Stephen Miller Comments: “No upper limit” on deportations to El Salvador
- ICE Misstep: Deportation of protected Maryland man called a “hoax” by Miller
- Human Rights Backlash: Critics decry abuses in El Salvador’s prison system
- Supreme Court Involvement: Orders U.S. to facilitate man’s return
Trump Meets El Salvador’s Bukele, Defends Prison Deportation Policy
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump hosted Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele at the White House on Monday, strengthening a controversial partnership that has made El Salvador a key player in the U.S. administration’s mass deportation policy.
The two leaders met in the Oval Office, where Trump praised Bukele for holding hundreds of migrants — many accused of gang affiliations — in a notorious Salvadoran prison. Trump called the cooperation a cost-saving success and credited the alliance with restoring “order” at the U.S.-Mexico border.
“You are helping us out,” Trump told Bukele. “We’re proud of it. Now we just need to get the criminals and murderers and rapists out of our country.”
Discussion Turns to Transgender Athletes
During the meeting, Trump raised the topic of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports — a frequent talking point of his campaign.
“Do you allow men to play in women’s sports?” Trump asked.
Bukele responded, “That’s violence,” adding, “We’re big on protecting women.”
Trump noted he preferred to save that issue for later in the election cycle, despite frequent public remarks on the topic.
Arrival at the White House
Bukele was greeted by Trump outside the White House. The two leaders posed for photos before entering the building. Trump pumped his fist and declined to answer reporters’ questions about Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador.
Inside, the leaders began their bilateral discussions, centering on immigration enforcement and regional security.
Controversial Deportations to Salvadoran Mega-Prison
The meeting follows the deportation of over 200 men — many accused of being part of Venezuelan gangs such as Tren de Aragua — to El Salvador’s maximum-security CECOT prison. These transfers were executed under the Alien Enemies Act, a law that has seen revived use under Trump’s second term.
Critics argue that these mass removals lack due process and have resulted in human rights abuses in a prison infamous for its overcrowding and military-style management.
“I don’t see it,” Trump said when asked about alleged abuses, praising Bukele for taking on a task the U.S. “wouldn’t be able to handle, cost-wise.”
Stephen Miller: “No Upper Limit” on Deportations
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told reporters there is “no upper limit” to the number of people the U.S. will deport to El Salvador.
“There are thousands of Tren de Aragua members left in this country,” Miller said. “We’re going to continue sending them to El Salvador.”
He refused to comment on whether the administration would request the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man mistakenly deported despite a court order protecting him from being returned to El Salvador.
The Abrego Garcia Case: Legal and Human Rights Outcry
Garcia, a sheet metal worker and father of three, was deported in early 2025 after what ICE later acknowledged was an “administrative error.” He was granted protected status in 2019, due to credible threats from gangs in El Salvador, yet was still placed on a deportation list.
He is now reportedly being held in CECOT, the same prison receiving alleged gang members from the U.S.
“Where is he from? El Salvador. Is he here illegally? Yes,” Miller said. He called media reports a “hoax” and claimed Garcia was a member of MS-13, a charge Garcia’s family firmly denies.
Despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s directive that the administration must “facilitate” Garcia’s return, the White House maintains that facilitation does not mean enforcement, pushing back on judicial authority.
Political and Legal Tensions Grow
The high-profile case and growing international scrutiny over deportation practices have intensified the debate over Trump’s immigration strategy, with civil liberties groups warning of overreach, due process violations, and the misuse of wartime legal provisions.
Human rights advocates say the use of El Salvador’s prisons as holding centers for foreign nationals raises ethical concerns and may violate U.S. and international law.
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