WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a dramatic Oval Office meeting on Monday, U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele highlighted a sweeping bilateral campaign to deport illegal immigrant gang members and violent offenders, including dozens tied to MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. The two leaders praised their “historic partnership” to secure borders and combat transnational crime — even as legal controversy erupts over the wrongful deportation of a Maryland father mistakenly sent to El Salvador.
Mass Deportations Announced
The White House released detailed information on some of the individuals removed, describing them as “cold-blooded criminals” responsible for heinous crimes across the U.S. and Central America. According to the official White House statement, the Trump administration has deported scores of violent foreign nationals, many affiliated with transnational gangs, including:
- Jorge Luis Guerrero-Quintero, a Venezuelan national and confirmed Tren de Aragua gang member, convicted of raping a 14-year-old and multiple weapons-related charges.
- Jose Lopez-Cruz, a Salvadoran national and confirmed MS-13 member, previously convicted of felony assault and arrested on a litany of new weapons and endangerment charges.
- Miguel Angel Fuentes-Lopez, another MS-13 member from El Salvador, was convicted of multiple violent assaults, including on a corrections officer.
- Maiker Espinoza Escalona, a Venezuelan gang member convicted of human trafficking and prostitution.
The list also includes multiple offenders convicted of crimes such as homicide, sexual exploitation of minors, aggravated assault, kidnapping, and drug trafficking.
These individuals have been transferred to El Salvador’s mega-prison CECOT under a U.S.-El Salvador agreement reportedly involving a $6 million transfer for detainment operations, as reported by the New York Post.
“There is no safe harbor for illegal immigrant criminals in the United States under my administration,” Trump said, emphasizing the importance of protecting American communities.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia Case Sparks Firestorm
The meeting, however, was overshadowed by growing outrage surrounding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father of three who was mistakenly deported in March despite longstanding protection from deportation. Garcia is now being held in El Salvador’s CECOT under terrorism-related detention.
According to Politico, President Bukele rebuffed calls to release Garcia, calling the request “preposterous” and labeling him a “terrorist.” He insisted he lacks legal authority to send Garcia back.
“The foreign policy of the United States is conducted by the President, not by a court,” said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as quoted in NBC News. Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed that sentiment, stating that the U.S. is only obligated to “provide a plane” if El Salvador cooperates.
Garcia’s legal team strongly denies any gang affiliation, and lawmakers like Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) have denounced his removal as unlawful. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Bukele’s remarks “pure nonsense,” per CNN.
A federal judge has ordered daily compliance updates from the Trump administration, with a new hearing scheduled for April 15, 2025, according to The Washington Post.
Trump’s Evening Post Sparks New Clash
Further fueling controversy, President Trump took to Truth Social Monday evening to defend the deportations and redirect attention to another case: the recent conviction of an undocumented migrant for the murder of Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five.
“Moments ago, the Illegal Criminal, who was allowed into our Country by Crooked Joe Biden, was convicted of the heinous murder of Rachel Morin,” Trump wrote.
“The Fake News should be focusing on the beautiful life and tragic death of this Maryland Mother, rather than the so-called ‘Maryland Father,’ who is actually an MS-13 Gang Member and Foreign Terrorist from El Salvador.”
Trump vowed to continue deporting “Illegal Murderers, Rapists, and Criminals,” declaring: “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
His post starkly contrasts with emerging evidence in Garcia’s case, which shows that he had received legal protection since 2019 due to credible threats from MS-13 in El Salvador — not gang affiliation.
Broader Political Implications
The administration continues to use the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to justify mass removals, a move that critics argue opens the door to unchecked executive authority and mistaken identity.
As the Trump-Bukele alliance deepens on immigration enforcement, constitutional and humanitarian questions intensify. Legal experts warn the U.S. government’s defiance of the Supreme Court may result in a constitutional crisis, while human rights advocates raise alarm over the use of foreign mega-prisons to detain those facing contested allegations.
(This post has been updated)
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