Trump could send American citizens to El Salvador mega prison

During the recent visit of the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, to the White House, Donald Trump stated, in a discussion filmed by Bukele’s team and broadcasted live on X, that in addition to illegal immigrants, he was also considering sending American citizens, or as he put it, «homegrown criminals».

This conversation, captured just before journalists entered the Oval Office, shows Donald Trump addressing the President of El Salvador, saying: “They love you, they love what you’re doing.”

Trump then adds: “Homegrown criminals are next.”

Trump, apparently believing that the existing mega-prisons in El Salvador are not large enough, then told Bukele that at least “five more places” would need to be built.

To which Bukele responded: “Yeah, we’ve got space,” a reply that reportedly provoked laughter in the Oval Office.

Donald Trump’s comments raise serious concerns, as he is already at the center of a controversy for refusing to facilitate the repatriation of a man sent to one of these mega-prisons, despite a Supreme Court decision.

Deported by mistake and without legal procedure by his administration, which refers to his deportation as a simple “administrative error,” Kilmar Abrego Garcia is now presented by the Trump administration as a dangerous individual, claims that are widely disputed and not backed by solid evidence at this moment.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 29, entered the United States illegally at the age of 16, fleeing gang violence in El Salvador, and has been living in the country since 2011. In 2019, a US court granted him a protection order allowing him to stay in the country, and he has never been charged or convicted.

The US Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return.

At the time of his arrest by ICE, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was living in Maryland with his wife and their three children: their biological son, who has autism, as well as two children from a previous relationship.

While the Trump administration tries to portray him as a criminal by citing a 2021 protection order, his wife claims that, even if no marriage is perfect, Kilmar has always been a “a loving partner and father,” and that his expulsion is in no way justified.

The way the administration handled Garcia’s case raises serious concerns about the respect for legal procedure for anyone who would be sent to these five mega-prisons, especially if they are designated as criminals according to Donald Trump’s vague criteria.

Trump regularly threatens his political opponents, as well as journalists and critical media, stating that some should “go to prison” simply for opposing his government.

Donald Trump frequently suggests that his political opponents or unfavorable media are criminals.

The “Lock her up” slogan, launched against Hillary Clinton, has become emblematic of his 2016 campaign and marked the beginning of a rhetoric that equates political opposition with a criminal threat.

He regularly calls Joe Biden the “head of a criminal organization” and accuses members of the January 6 committee of manipulating or suppressing evidence, stating: “What they did is criminal. They should go to prison.”

Attorney General Merrick Garland is, according to him, “corrupt” and should be “held accountable,” while he claims that special prosecutor Jack Smith “should be arrested.” Judges involved in his trials, such as Judge Engoron, are also labeled “corrupt.”

On the media side, Trump calls CNN, MSNBC, or the New York Times “criminals,” going so far as to say that some journalists “should go to prison” for refusing to reveal their sources.

This systematic criminalization of all opposition or criticism raises deep concerns.

Especially since Trump has now openly stated that he is considering the idea of sending American citizens to prison in El Salvador.

This content was created with the help of AI.