In a move aligned with President Donald Trump's ongoing policy of removing foreign criminals from the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that 17 violent gang members have been deported to El Salvador. The individuals belong to the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs, both of which have previously been listed as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. government.

Rubio described the deportations as a “successful counter-terrorism operation,” emphasizing the government's commitment to safeguarding American citizens from violent threats. “We will continue to act decisively to protect our people,” Rubio stated, reiterating the administration's hardline stance on organized crime and terrorism.

Some of the deported individuals, particularly those from Venezuela affiliated with the Tren de Aragua, have been transferred to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). The CECOT is a maximum-security facility known for housing some of the region’s most dangerous criminals, with a capacity of up to 14,000 inmates. The prison has recently drawn international attention and was visited by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as part of broader efforts to coordinate regional security.

This operation highlights growing collaboration between the U.S. and Central American countries in combating transnational criminal organizations. The deportation reflects Washington's intent to remove threats before they can harm the U.S. population, a key part of Trump’s national security and immigration agenda.

Authorities stress that this is not an isolated case, but part of a broader, sustained effort to dismantle violent networks operating across borders. By leveraging legal and diplomatic channels, the U.S. aims to ensure that those identified as terrorist affiliates face justice in secure environments such as CECOT.

The transfer is expected to bolster the regional crackdown on gang violence, further strengthening alliances between American and Salvadoran security institutions. As the U.S. maintains a tough stance on immigration enforcement, more operations of this nature are anticipated in the coming months.