During a high-profile visit to the White House, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele sparked renewed debate over his controversial — but effective — approach to eliminating gang violence.

Once dubbed the murder capital of the world, El Salvador has undergone a dramatic transformation. It’s now considered one of the safest countries in the Western Hemisphere.

According to data from the Salvadoran government, the country recorded 2,398 homicides in 2019, the year Bukele took office. Just five years later, that number has declined to just 114 homicides in 2024, 112 of which have been solved. That translates to a murder rate of 1.9 per 100,000 people — a historic low.

What changed?

Bukele wasted no time upon taking office in June 2019. He quickly launched a sweeping initiative known as the Territorial Control Plan, deploying police and soldiers to gang-dominated areas. In March 2022, after a brief surge in killings, Bukele declared a state of exception, suspending certain constitutional rights and leading to more than 85,000 arrests.

By 2023, Bukele opened a massive new prison built to hold tens of thousands of suspected gang members. These aggressive tactics helped drop the murder rate from 38 per 100,000 in 2019 to 1.9 in 2024. While the strategy has been praised for restoring safety to communities, critics argue it has come at the cost of due process and human rights — issues that continue to fuel international concern.

As part of a broader immigration crackdown, the U.S. government has deported about 250 alleged gang members — mostly Venezuelans allegedly tied to the Tren de Aragua gang and several MS-13 members — directly to El Salvador’s CECOT mega prison.

According to a White House statement, the deportation was carried out under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, with officials describing the individuals as “ruthless terrorist gang members” who had brought “unspeakable devastation” to American communities.

A $6 million agreement

The deportations are part of a $6 million agreement between the Trump administration and the Salvadoran government, according to reporting from the Associated Press. Under the deal, El Salvador will hold the deportees for one year. Some contend that the $6 million payment for migrants’ incarceration is likely a violation of the law.

The State Department has denied any potential violations, saying in a statement to States Newsroom it is “following all applicable laws related to foreign assistance, including the State Leahy Law.” The spokesperson said the U.S. is engaged with El Salvador through foreign assistance to address unauthorized migration and human trafficking, according to States Newsroom.

Inside CECOT

The CECOT (Center for the Confinement of Terrorism) facility has become a focal point in Bukele’s anti-gang campaign. Opened in 2023, the prison has a maximum capacity of 40,000 inmates and virtually no amenities. Prisoners are denied visitation rights, have no outdoor time and are offered no rehabilitation or recreation programs.

Despite international criticism, Bukele appears committed to expanding the facility. According to The Wall Street Journal, he told Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem he plans to double the prison’s capacity to 80,000, potentially to accommodate even more deportees from the U.S.

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