Rubio Defends Controversial Deportation Agreement Amid USAID Turmoil/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is facing scrutiny over a new agreement with El Salvador to accept deported American criminals. Meanwhile, turmoil at USAID has sparked job losses and concerns about the agency’s future. Rubio, on a five-nation tour of Central America, is expected to address these issues in a meeting with Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves.
Rubio Faces Scrutiny: Quick Looks
- Deportation Deal with El Salvador: Rubio confirmed El Salvador will accept deported criminals, including US citizens.
- Bukele’s Prison Offer: Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele offered to house deported US inmates for a fee-based system.
- Human Rights Concerns: El Salvador’s prisons are overcrowded and criticized for harsh conditions and limited legal rights.
- USAID Crisis: Staffers were blocked from headquarters, following mass layoffs and program shutdowns.
- Elon Musk’s Role: Musk, leading Trump’s cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency, reportedly pushed for USAID’s shutdown.
- Rubio’s Response: Rubio, now acting USAID administrator, said he’s delegating authority and plans to absorb parts of USAID into the State Department.
- Congressional Debate: Lawmakers will determine whether USAID will be restructured or dissolved.
Rubio Defends Controversial Deportation Agreement Amid USAID Turmoil
Rubio’s Deportation Deal and USAID Crisis: A Deep Look
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is under intense scrutiny as he continues his five-nation tour of Central America, pushing the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies. On Tuesday, he is set to meet Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves, where he is expected to face tough questions about a controversial deportation deal with El Salvador and the turmoil engulfing USAID.
A Controversial Deportation Agreement
On Monday, Rubio finalized an unusual deal with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, allowing the US to deport individuals of any nationality—including American citizens convicted of violent crimes—to El Salvador.
“We can send them, and he will put them in his jails,” Rubio stated, emphasizing that the US could relocate prisoners currently serving sentences in America.
Bukele confirmed the offer in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that El Salvador has “offered the United States of America the opportunity to outsource part of its prison system.” Under the agreement, El Salvador would accept only convicted criminals and charge the US a fee to sustain its prison system.
While this deal could ease overcrowding in US prisons, it has raised human rights concerns due to the inhumane conditions in El Salvador’s detention facilities.
Harsh Conditions in Salvadoran Prisons
The State Department describes El Salvador’s prison system as harsh and overcrowded, citing inadequate sanitation, lack of potable water, and extreme conditions.
Since March 2022, El Salvador has been under a state of emergency, during which fundamental rights have been suspended. Authorities have arrested over 83,000 people, often without due process.
In 2023, Bukele opened a massive prison with space for 40,000 inmates, boasting that prisoners only receive one meal per day and have no access to education or rehabilitation programs.
Despite these concerns, El Salvador has reported a sharp decline in homicides, dropping to a record-low 114 killings in 2024, significantly improving security in a nation that was once one of the most violent in the world.
USAID Shutdown Sparks Chaos
On Monday, staffers and Democratic lawmakers were locked out of USAID’s Washington headquarters, following President Trump’s decision to shut down the agency in collaboration with Elon Musk, who oversees the Department of Government Efficiency.
Trump’s foreign aid freeze had already led to thousands of USAID employees losing their jobs and the closure of several international programs. Now, Rubio has confirmed that he is serving as acting USAID administrator, but he has delegated authority to avoid handling daily operations.
What’s Next for USAID?
In a letter to lawmakers obtained by The Associated Press, Rubio proposed that the State Department absorb key offices and bureaus from USAID, suggesting that the agency’s functions were poorly coordinated and hindered Trump’s ability to execute foreign policy effectively.
Rubio’s letter stated:
“In consultation with Congress, USAID may move, reorganize, and integrate certain missions, bureaus, and offices into the Department of State, and the remainder of the agency may be abolished consistent with applicable law.”
Political Fallout and Future Uncertainty
The fate of USAID will now be decided by Congress, where Democrats and some Republicans are expected to push back against Trump’s move to dismantle the agency.
As Rubio continues his tour of Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic, he will likely face increasing scrutiny over both the USAID shutdown and the El Salvador deportation deal.
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