Trump and Bukele Reject Supreme Court Order, Refuse to Return Wrongfully Deported Man from CECOT

President Donald Trump hosted El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele at the White House on Monday, April 14, 2025, to discuss immigration policies and strengthen their partnership on deportation efforts. Bukele, who has described himself as the 'world's coolest dictator,' has become a key ally in Trump's mass deportation initiatives, particularly in relation to sending migrants to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). The meeting comes amid controversy over the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador in March. Despite a unanimous 9-0 Supreme Court ruling ordering the Trump administration to 'facilitate' Garcia's return to the U.S., both Trump and Bukele have stated that they will not allow his return. Bukele argued that he lacks the authority to send Garcia back, while Trump's administration has claimed that Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang, a designation that they say voids his previous protection from removal. Trump has expressed intentions to deport not only illegal immigrants but also American citizens involved in violent activities, suggesting a broader application of deportation policies. The administration has already sent hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under an agreement that includes a $6 million investment in the country's prison system.