El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, has stirred up some controversy on X after suggesting that his country is considering the purchase of US convicted criminals. Through his official X account, Bukele announced that they are offering the US the chance to outsource part of its prison system.
He explained that his nation’s prison system is prepared to accept criminals, including those convicted in the US. However, this would involve a fee that would be relatively small for the US but substantial for his country, ultimately helping to sustain the prison systems in both nations.
“We have offered the United States of America the opportunity to outsource part of its prison system.
We are willing to take in only convicted criminals (including convicted U.S. citizens) into our mega-prison (CECOT) in exchange for a fee.
The fee would be relatively low for the U.S. but significant for us, making our entire prison system sustainable.”
https://twitter.com/nayibbukele/status/1886606794614587573
Despite this, the proposal has been met with significant concern from various quarters. While some individuals supported the idea, the majority expressed their disapproval. Among the supporters is tech billionaire and the world’s wealthiest man, Elon Musk. Detractors argue that it infringes upon human rights and emphasize that these criminals remain US citizens.
“There’s a reason we don’t let the UN prosecute our war criminals, it’s because our criminals are still our citizens and still subject to the US Constitution and it’s protections, including the Eight Amendment. That said this would require a review by SCOTUS.”
“I hope every human rights lawyer challenges these proposals. No US citizens should fulfill time for a conviction in another country unless they’ve comitted a crime in that country’s jurisdiction.”
“I don’t think it would be legal for America to ship its citizen to a prison overseas. But what I am starting to learn is anything is possible under Trump no matter how crazy it is.”
Bukele has recently initiated impressive reforms in his country’s prison system. He noted that 40% of El Salvador’s incarcerated population is already working towards repaying its societal debt by receiving vocational training to benefit the community. In exchange, they earn shorter sentences and acquire useful skills.
However, he clarified that this program is NOT accessible to rapists and murderers. These inmates will contribute to building roads, hospitals, and schools; they will produce uniforms and furniture, as well as cultivate and harvest crops in El Salvador; and they will assist in cleaning the nation’s rivers.
Elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2024 for a second term, Bukele, the youngest president in the country’s history, has been recognized for significantly reducing crime rates. He has successfully decreased the high homicide rate from 83 per 100,000 to 38 per 100,000, the lowest in the Americas. However, he has faced accusations of being a dictator and leading an authoritarian regime from his critics.
