US and El Salvador collaborate to transfer high-risk gang members

The United States military has on Sunday night joined forces with El Salvador to transfer 17 notorious gang members from the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

He said the gang, deemed significant threat to public safety, are known for violent crimes such as murder and rape.

In a satement on Monday, Rubio emphasised  US commitment to protecting its citizens, stating  President Trump has designated both gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organisations.

“These criminals will no longer terrorise our communities and citizens,” Rubio asserted.

This operation highlights strong partnership between the US and El Salvador, with Rubio expressing gratitude to President Nayib Bukele and Salvadoran government for their cooperation in combating transnational crime and terrorism.

El Salvador Security Measures

El Salvador has taken significant steps to combat gang violence under President Bukele’s leadership, including:

– Mega Prison Construction: A new maximum-security prison, CECOT, was built to house gang members and disrupt their operations.

– State of Emergency: A prolonged state of emergency has allowed for mass arrests and detention of suspected gang members, with over 105,500 detainees currently held in prisons.

– Security Forces Deployment: The military has been deployed to facilitate arrests and encircle communities to capture gang members.

Human Rights Concerns

While these measures have contributed to reduced violence, concerns have been raised about human rights abuses, including:

– Arbitrary arrests: Thousands of innocent people have been detained, with some cases of enforced disappearances and torture reported.

– Prison Conditions: Overcrowding and poor living conditions in prisons have sparked criticism from human rights groups.