The Trump administration proposed sending up to 500 Venezuelan migrants with alleged ties to the Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador, utilizing the country's mega prison CECOT. This proposal was part of a broader agreement between the United States and El Salvador to detain individuals linked to gangs, which has led to legal battles and criticism. El Salvador agreed to accept up to 300 individuals, with the arrangement described as a non-binding cooperation agreement. The United States committed $15 million in foreign affairs funding to support El Salvador's law enforcement needs, but only a portion of it has been disbursed. The use of CECOT for detaining migrants has raised concerns over potential human rights violations, prompting legal challenges and scrutiny from various stakeholders, including federal judges and immigrant advocates.

The Trump administration sought to send up to 500 Venezuelan migrants with alleged gang affiliations to El Salvador's mega prison CECOT, aiming to leverage the facility for detaining individuals linked to the Tren de Aragua gang.

An agreement was reached between the United States and El Salvador to detain up to 300 alleged gang members, with the arrangement characterized as a friendly, non-binding cooperation agreement.

The United States pledged $15 million in funding to El Salvador to support its law enforcement and incarceration efforts, though only a portion has been distributed, contingent on the number of individuals detained.

Deportation flights carrying 238 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador sparked legal controversies and criticism from Democrats and immigrant advocates, highlighting concerns over potential human rights violations.

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has been praised by President Trump for his cooperation, and discussions have taken place regarding the construction of additional mega-prisons to accommodate future detainees.

The arrangement has been scrutinized legally, with federal judges questioning the legality of using foreign facilities for detention and the absence of due process for deportees.

Concerns have been raised over the treatment of detainees in CECOT, with some arguing it could lead to cruel and unusual punishment not permissible in U.S. facilities, prompting legal challenges from organizations like the ACLU.