The Trump administration allocated $6 million to send hundreds of individuals to a foreign prison, where they are subjected to unpaid labor under harsh conditions. After deporting 238 Venezuelan immigrants to a notorious prison in El Salvador, possibly in violation of court directives, the administration instigated a confrontation with the judicial branch to defend its right to deport immigrants without presenting evidence in court. Lawyers from the Department of Justice have employed the state secrets privilege to withhold evidence from the court by refusing to reveal the flight details of the deported individuals and attempting to appeal Judge James Boasberg’s temporary restraining order.
The deportation initiative, which raises significant concerns about civil liberties and due process rights, highlights the government’s involvement in the global migrant trafficking market. On March 15, 2025, the Trump administration made an agreement worth $6 million with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to confine 238 deported individuals in the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo—CECOT, a prison known for its indefinite sentencing procedures. Despite legal challenges, the administration persisted. On March 26, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem visited El Salvador to inspect CECOT and strengthen ties with Bukele. That weekend, another 17 individuals were deported to El Salvador using a different legal framework circumventing the restraining order.
The collaborative venture with El Salvador appears to be designed for political gain and minor financial profit at significant moral expense, reducing individuals to tradable global commodities. Despite acknowledgment of mistakenly deporting a protected individual, the administration claimed they could not repatriate him, highlighting a preference for international trade alliances over adherence to American laws.
Bukele, Trump, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have distributed videos showing deportees arriving in chains and being processed into prison life. Upon arrival, they endure overcrowded conditions and are destined to participate in El Salvador’s “Zero Idleness” program, which involves forced labor.
The U.S. appears to be profiting from such deals. While housing someone in a U.S. detention center costs approximately $60,000 annually, similar confinement at CECOT costs about $25,000 per individual. Officials project federal savings upwards of $8.3 million because of this arrangement. Secretary Noem has indicated a willingness to engage in similar future agreements.
This scenario marks the expansion of the U.S. carceral system beyond its borders, evolving America’s historical exploitation within its criminal justice system. The deal with El Salvador creates a new international market for the trade of imprisoned migrants, transforming previously free workers into imprisoned laborers fulfilling economic roles.
Despite calls for these individuals to return, concerns linger about the possibility of other nations participating in similar deals, while awaiting the judiciary’s response on the deportees’ future. Recently, 17 additional immigrants have been deported, some implicated in ongoing legal challenges against the Department of Homeland Security. Their families express confusion and seek their return. However, Trump and Bukele appear intent on maintaining these individuals’ removal from public awareness and consciousness, highlighting ongoing humanitarian and legal concerns.
