Rubio puts US informants at risk in El Salvador deal

In March Secretary of State Marco Rubio promised Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele the return of nine MS- gang leaders in U S custody selected of whom were confidential informants in exchange for access to El Salvador s Terrorism Confinement Center CECOT According to an special in the Washington Post this agreement facilitated the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan expatriates to El Salvador but has raised key 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 from informants One of the deported gang leaders C sar L pez Larios had previously provided critical information about MS- sessions in the U S and alleged regime collusion in El Salvador The arrangement has also drawn attention to the Trump administration s relationship with Bukele s executive which has faced assertions of negotiating with MS- to reduce crime statistics and suppress evidence of administration dealings with the gang While the Trump administration has defended the deal as a diplomatic success the decision has sparked conflict over the ethical implications of sacrificing informant safety for geopolitical gains This situation underscores ongoing tensions between national protection interests and the protection of individuals who assist in law enforcement efforts The matter has increased scrutiny of U S collaboration with Bukele whose administration is accused of negotiating with MS- to reduce crime statistics while facing assertions of human rights abuses and undermining democratic norms Read more about this topic Venezuelan deportees say they endured months of abuse inside Salvadoran prison No place for displaced persons Advocates fear expelled Venezuelans already being tortured in El Salvador Home-growns are next Trump proposes sending US citizens to El Salvador prisons The post Rubio puts US informants at liability in El Salvador deal appeared first on Salon com