1A 'If You Can Keep It': Trump's Deportations And El Salvador
Apr 21, 2025
Jose Olivares, an investigative journalist, Grace Carney, a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society, and Christina Rodriguez, a Yale law professor, delve into the legal complexities surrounding Trump's deportation policies. They explore the controversial collaboration between the U.S. and El Salvador under President Bukele, who accepts deportees, often unlawfully. The guests discuss the Supreme Court's recent rulings halting deportations, the implications of Bukele's governance on civil rights, and the personal stories of those caught in the crossfire of these policies.
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Client's Detention and Deportation Struggles
- Grace Carney shared the story of her client, a 21-year-old gay Venezuelan man detained and wrongly accused of gang affiliation.
- He was shuffled across detention centers, impacting his ability to prepare for asylum hearings and leading to an attempted illegal deportation to El Salvador.
Bukele's Gang Pact and Crackdown
- Nayib Bukele struck a gang pact reducing El Salvador's murder rates and gained political support from gangs like MS-13.
- After the pact fell apart, he launched aggressive crackdowns using massive prisons and emergency powers.
Origin of U.S.-El Salvador Deportation Deal
- Eric Prince pitched the idea of housing deported U.S. immigrants in El Salvador's terrorism prison, leading to a $6 million deal.
- This deal includes transporting migrants and controversial release of MS-13 leaders familiar with earlier negotiations.