WASHINGTON
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele plans to double the capacity of the world’s largest prison to hold more US deportees, a report said Wednesday.
During a recent visit by US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Bukele said he intends to expand the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot), which currently houses around 15,000 inmates, said The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the discussions.
The facility, opened in 2023, was built to hold up to 40,000 inmates. Its expansion would raise its capacity to 80,000.
The plan comes amid growing cooperation with the Trump administration, which has deported more than 250 gang members to El Salvador, many of them Venezuelan.
The US is paying the Bukele government $6 million to incarcerate them at the facility.
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen visited San Salvador this week, seeking the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident deported in error.
