News Analysis: The Trump administration's budding bromance with El Salvador's leader

[Judi Lynn]

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, shown in Costa Rica in November, has jailed tens of thousands of accused gang members. (Jose Diaz / Associated Press)

By Tracy Wilkinson
Staff Writer
Feb. 5, 2025 8:44 AM PT

GUATEMALA CITY — While the Biden administration criticized Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s strong-armed governing style, the Trump administration sees him as its new best friend in Latin America.

Bukele made a name for himself by jailing tens of thousands of alleged gang members, which has helped to bring down the homicide rate in the country. More than 1% of the national population is now imprisoned — including children — and conditions are often atrocious, human rights activists say, adding he’s suspended civil rights and conducted massive dragnets that sweep up criminal and innocent alike.

But when America’s top diplomat, former Sen. Marco Rubio, made his inaugural trip as secretary of State to Latin America this week, he showered praise on the 43-year-old El Salvador leader. And Bukele responded in kind.

This week he offered to let Trump move immigrants who are imprisoned in the U.S. to detention centers in El Salvador, what the administration has called “outsourcing” security and punishment for crime. But Bukele didn’t stop there. He went on to say he would also take convicted felons who are U.S. citizens.

More:
https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2025-02-05/trump-el-salvador-alliance-bukele

Or:
https://www.removepaywall.com/search?url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2025-02-05/trump-el-salvador-alliance-bukele