El Salvador Reportedly Offered The U.S. a 50% Discount On Prisoner Fees In Exchange For Deporting MS-13 Members

The Salvadoran government reportedly offered the Trump administration a 50% discount in the fee it charges for holding suspected gang members at its infamous mega-prison in exchange for receiving nine MS-13 members living in the United States.

The offer, accepted by the Trump administration, was reported by CNN and was part of negotiations between the two governments before hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members were sent to the Central American country.

The arrangement determined that the U.S. provides transportation and related costs, as well as a one-time $10 million fee for the prisoners. The figure amounts to $20,000 per prisoner, considering the Trump administration initially sought to send 500 people to the Salvadoran prison. It ended up sending fewer, less than 300.

Ibrajim Bukele, the president's brother, then offered the discount deal. "Upon all nine being returned, (El Salvador) will provide (US government) a 50% discount for Year 2, if necessary, of the original TdAs," reads an email reported by CNN. An official told the outlet that the deportation of MS-13 members was a priority for Bukele and the Trump administration agreed to the proposal.

Drop Site News reported in late March that some MS-13 leaders are allegedly involved in secret negotiations with Bukele in which they were offered incentives in exchange for reducing violence and providing political support. Bukele has long denied these negotiations, but his administration has resisted extraditing MS-13 leaders to the U.S., raising speculation about his desire to keep their testimony out of American courts.

The outlet cited the case of Cesar Humberto Lopez-Larios, known as "Greñas," to back its claim. The U.S. government recently dropped all charges against him and deported him to El Salvador, with federal prosecutors dismissing the charges citing "sensitive and important foreign policy considerations."

Greñas, a member of MS-13's top leadership, was allegedly present during 2019 negotiations between the gang and Bukele's administration, the report added. U.S. prosecutors claim the talks led to MS-13 reducing public killings in exchange for financial incentives and territorial control. The alleged truce appeared to benefit Bukele politically by lowering the country's murder rate, strengthening his image as a crime-fighter.

The Bukele administration has consistently resisted extradition requests for MS-13 leaders, including some accused of negotiating with his government. In one case, Salvadoran officials released an MS-13 leader wanted by the U.S. following intense pressure but allegedly helped him flee to Guatemala. In fact, U.S. prosecutors alleged that he was escorted by high-level government officials and provided with a firearm before being set free.

Following the letter, Salvadoran authorities sought to recapture him, with officials even discussing a plan to pay Mexican cartels $1 million to find him. However, he was captured by the Mexican government before, which turned him over to U.S. authorities two days later. He is currently detained in Philadelphia.