In a move that has drawn criticism, the Trump administration is seeking to dismiss criminal charges against MS-13 leader Vladimir Antonio Arevalo-Chavez to facilitate his deportation to El Salvador. Court records indicate that Arevalo-Chavez possesses detailed knowledge of a 2019 agreement between MS-13 and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, which allegedly involved financial and territorial concessions in exchange for gang support during elections.
The dismissal of charges and deportation are part of a broader agreement between the U.S. and El Salvador, allowing the U.S. to incarcerate immigrants in a Salvadoran maximum-security prison. Critics argue that the move is an effort to suppress evidence and prevent Arevalo-Chavez from testifying about the alleged pact.