In a recent agreement, the United States government will pay El Salvador to US $ 6 million for imprisoning, for a year, approximately 300 alleged members of the Criminal Band of Venezuelan Original Tren of Aragua.
This agreement It arises as a consequence of the migratory and security policies promoted by the administration of the US President Donald Trumpwho repeatedly emphasized the need to combat transnational criminal organizations that, he said, threatens the stability of the United States.
In that context, the State Department recently appointed the Aragua Train and other Latin American criminal groups as global terrorist organizations, which allowed more energetic actions against its members.
For his part, El Salvador, under the mandate of President Nayib Bukele, has converted the country’s prisons, especially the Center for Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT), in symbol of his “Hard Hand” approach against organized crime. This facilitated the negotiations between both governments, which culminated in an agreement to transfer to members of the Aragua train and other criminals to Salvadoran prisons.
The agreement was formally announced on Sunday, March 16, when 238 alleged members of the Aragua Train and 23 gang members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) entered the CECOT.
Today, The First 238 Members of the Venezuelan Criminal Organization, Aragua Train, Arrived in Our Country. They were immedialy transferred to cecot, The Terrorism Confinement Center, for a period of one year (renewable).
The United States Will Pay A Very Low Fee For Them, … pic.twitter.com/tfsi8CGPD6
– Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) March 16, 2025
According to Bukele, These people will remain in Salvadoran prisons for a year, with the possibility of expanding that period. However, the Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubio, said that the number of members of the Aragua train sent to El Salvador was 250, a discrepancy that has not been officially clarified.
“As the president of the United States, Donald Trump promised, we send more than 250 foreigners enemies members of the Aragua train, which El Salvador has agreed to keep in his very good prisons at a fair price that will also save dollars from our taxpayers,” Rubio shared in his X account.
We have fir 2 Dangerous Top MS-13 Leaders Plus 21 of its Most Want Back To Face Justice in El Salvador. Also, as promised by @PotusWe feel over 250 alien enemy members of a Aragua Which El Salvador has added to hold in their see good jails at a fair price that will …
– Secretary Marco Rubio (@secrubio) March 16, 2025
What were the details of the financial agreement
According to memorandums obtained by the AP news agencyUnited States will pay US $ 20,000 per year for each member of the criminal gang housed in Salvadoran prisons, which adds a total of US $ 6 million for the 300 alleged members of the Aragua train. In addition, the US government would reserve additional US $ 15 million to cover possible future transfers from other members of the organization.
Although Bukele did not confirm the exact figures, according to the medium The graphic press, The Salvadoran president described the payment as “very low” for the United States, but significant for El Salvador.
The president also stressed that this agreement, together with the prison programs implemented in the country, will contribute to create a “self -sustainable prison system”.