In March 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio promised Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele the return of nine MS-13 gang leaders in U.S. custody, some of whom were confidential informants, in exchange for access to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). According to an exclusive in the Washington Post, this agreement facilitated the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador but has raised significant concerns about the safety of U.S. law enforcement operations and the protection of informants.

To fulfill Bukele’s request, Attorney General Pam Bondi was reportedly instructed to terminate the Justice Department’s agreements with these informants. Critics argue that this move undermines the credibility of U.S. law enforcement and could deter future cooperation

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