Trump Administration Signs $4.8M Deal With El Salvador to Detain Venezuelan Migrants

The Trump administration struck a $4.8 million agreement with El Salvador to imprison hundreds of Venezuelan migrants, accused of gang affiliations, at the notorious CECOT prison, known for its harsh and unsanitary conditions. This deal, revealed through a lawsuit, restricts the use of funds from being applied to legal counsel for the detainees or to support reproductive health care, asylum seekers, diversity, and immigration policies that conflict with President Trump's administration. The administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act to expedite deportations without due process, which has sparked legal challenges and criticism from human rights groups and Democrats, citing the risk of severe abuses including torture. The agreement allows El Salvador to detain these individuals for up to a year and explicitly forbids the funds from being transferred to third parties or used for purposes contrary to Trump’s policy priorities. Human rights organizations have condemned the arrangement for failing to guarantee protection against indefinite confinement or mistreatment. The Trump administration has faced ongoing court battles over the legality and ethics of this expedited deportation and detention strategy.