WASHINGTON, D.C. — With controversy ongoing over a judge ordering a deported MS-13 gang member to be returned to the U.S., news broke that President Donald Trump had agreed to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia home if El Salvador would keep Senator Cory Booker.
Sources said the deal came together during El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele’s visit to the White House this week, with Bukele and Trump reaching a compromise that the U.S. would take Abrego Garcia back as long as Booker could be held in El Salvador indefinitely.
“We came to a big, beautiful deal that makes our country better — and safer,” Trump told reporters when the agreement was announced. “I have graciously agreed to let the vicious MS-13 gang member come back to the United States in return for my good friend, President Bukele, promising to keep Senator Cory Booker in El Salvador. It’s a win for both countries, I must say. One country gets rid of an evil, psychotic nutjob, and the other country gets rid of an MS-13 gang member. It’s a tremendous deal.”
President Bukele told the media that El Salvador was willing to take the hit of keeping Booker detained within its borders. “It was not an easy decision to make, but we are willing to do this for our friends in the U.S.,” he said. “While we feel our country is getting the worse end of the exchange, the systems we have put in place should be able to offset the risk of having Cory Booker present.”
At publishing time, Senator Booker had reportedly already been put to work sewing inmate uniforms in a maximum security El Salvadorian prison.
Meet Juan. He came to this country with a dream to commit crime. This is his story.
