ECNETNews Reports — The Trump administration has reached an agreement with El Salvador to allocate $6 million for the detention of approximately 300 alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang. This arrangement marks a significant step in the Central American nation’s efforts to receive migrants from the United States.
The agreement was solidified following negotiations between El Salvador’s President and U.S. officials regarding the housing of migrants in El Salvador’s well-known prison facilities. Since 2022, the Salvadoran government has detained over 84,000 individuals in a campaign to combat gang violence, at times bypassing due process.
Documents related to this transfer do not specify how the administration determined that these 300 detainees were affiliated with Tren de Aragua, a gang frequently highlighted during political campaigns and labeled a terrorist organization.
El Salvador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed, “The Republic of El Salvador will house these individuals for one year, pending decisions regarding their long-term status from the United States.”
Last month, a formal agreement was established to facilitate the detention of migrants from the U.S. in El Salvador, with discussions indicating that the Central American country could even accommodate American nationals, despite legal restrictions on deportation.
Negotiators also outlined the financial specifics of about $20,000 allocated for each imprisoned individual during the year, with discussions suggesting an additional $15 million might be earmarked to further support the housing of more gang members.
Additionally, the Salvadoran memo revealed the acceptance of two individuals identified as members of the MS-13 gang, a group initially formed by Salvadoran migrants in the U.S. which has since entrenched itself in El Salvador.
One individual, identified as Cesar Eliseo Sorto Amaya, was previously convicted of double homicide in El Salvador before attempting to enter the United States illegally, while another was charged by the Biden administration for being a senior leader within the MS-13 organization.
