GOP Senators Reject Trump’s Proposal to Send Citizens to Foreign Prisons

President Donald Trump recently proposed sending U.S. citizens convicted of crimes to foreign prisons, specifically mentioning facilities like El Salvador’s CECOT mega-prison. The idea has been met with strong opposition from Republican senators, including Trump allies such as Senators Rand Paul, Ron Johnson, and Chuck Grassley, who argue the plan would violate the Constitution’s due process protections and is likely unconstitutional. Legal experts and senators emphasize that deporting or incarcerating American citizens abroad lacks statutory or constitutional authority and would almost certainly be blocked by the Supreme Court. Some senators suggested Trump’s remarks may have been exaggerated or not intended as serious policy proposals. Meanwhile, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele expressed willingness to accept convicted criminals from the U.S. for a fee, but senators remain skeptical about the legal feasibility of such an arrangement. Overall, bipartisan skepticism underscores the constitutional barriers to implementing Trump’s proposal.