Former US President Donald Trump has publicly thanked Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for accepting criminals deported from the United States, while strongly criticizing the administration of President Joe Biden for allowing them into the country in the first place.

“Thank you, President Bukele, of El Salvador, for taking the criminals that were so stupidly allowed, by the Crooked Joe Biden Administration, to enter our Country, and giving them such a wonderful place to live!” Trump stated in a post on social media.

The remark follows a recent operation in which the United States transferred 17 criminals affiliated with the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 to El Salvador’s high-security prison, the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (Cecot). Earlier in March, 238 members of the Tren de Aragua had also been sent to the same facility as part of an agreement between both nations.

Bukele, known for his tough stance on crime, and his administration continue to highlight its uncompromising crackdown on gangs and organized crime.

Trump’s statement not only praised Bukele’s efforts but also served as another complaint on the Biden administration’s immigration policies. The former president, who is running for re-election in 2024, has frequently criticized Biden for the failure to secure the US-Mexico border.

Meanwhile, the Salvadoran government has reinforced its commitment to combating transnational crime, with Cecot now housing thousands of gang members, including those deported from the US. As security cooperation between the two nations intensifies, El Salvador remains a key player in regional efforts to dismantle criminal networks.