The Trump administration is negotiating an asylum agreement with El Salvador’s government that would allow the U.S. to deport migrants to the Central American nation, even if they are not originally from there, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
The proposed arrangement, known as a “Safe Third Country” agreement, would enable U.S. immigration officials to redirect non-Salvadoran migrants to El Salvador, preventing them from applying for asylum in the United States. Instead, these individuals would be instructed to seek asylum in El Salvador, which would be designated as a “safe third country.”
If finalized, this plan would revive a similar agreement brokered during the first Trump administration with El Salvador’s government. That agreement, however, was never implemented and was later rescinded by the Biden administration.
A safe third-country agreement would mark a significant development in the Trump administration’s immigration strategy, allowing the U.S. to deport migrants from nations that restrict or refuse deportations, such as Venezuela.
One proposal under consideration includes deportation flights to El Salvador carrying suspected members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that President Trump has prioritized in his immigration crackdown. Shortly after his inauguration, Trump directed officials to begin the process of designating Tren de Aragua as a terrorist group.
El Salvador’s capacity to manage deported gang members remains uncertain. Under President Nayib Bukele, the Salvadoran government has waged an aggressive campaign against local gangs, including MS-13, through mass incarcerations. While Bukele’s anti-gang policies have earned him widespread domestic approval and support from U.S. conservatives, international organizations have raised concerns about due process violations.
The White House confirmed that President Trump and President Bukele spoke on Thursday, discussing efforts to curb illegal immigration and combat transnational gangs such as Tren de Aragua.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also set to visit El Salvador in early February as part of a broader Latin America trip aimed at addressing regional migration issues. Rubio has vowed to make reducing mass migration a central focus of his agenda.
The State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and White House have not provided immediate comments on the negotiations.
Since taking office, President Trump has implemented a sweeping immigration enforcement strategy. These measures include granting deportation officers expanded authority, restricting access to asylum along the U.S.-Mexico border, and deploying military resources to bolster border security.
Military aircraft are now being used to deport migrants, and additional active-duty troops have been dispatched to build barriers aimed at deterring unlawful crossings. However, the use of military resources in civilian law enforcement raises legal questions, as federal law generally prohibits such actions.
The proposed safe third-country agreement would further strengthen Trump’s efforts to restrict access to the U.S. asylum system. This includes policies allowing border agents to swiftly deport migrants without permitting them to apply for asylum and the reinstatement of the “Remain-in-Mexico” policy, which requires asylum seekers to stay outside the U.S. while their cases are reviewed.
Currently, the U.S. has only one active safe third-country agreement, established with Canada, which allows the two countries to exchange asylum claimants crossing their shared border. During his first term, Trump secured similar agreements with Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. However, only the deal with Guatemala was implemented, and all three were suspended under the Biden administration.
