Republican members of the United States Congress have made strong statements in support of President Nayib Bukele’s security strategy, calling for global recognition of the atrocities committed by gangs in El Salvador and urging the international community to acknowledge the impact of his administration’s anti-crime measures.
Anna Paulina Luna, Republican Congresswoman and Chair of the El Salvador Caucus in the U.S. Congress, declared that the world must “know exactly who these monsters are,” referencing the brutality of MS-13 and other organized criminal groups. “I have seen and obtained images of mass graves discovered in El Salvador—evidence of the human rights violations committed against innocent civilians by MS-13 and organized crime,” Luna posted on X.
She also criticized the silence of international human rights organizations regarding the suffering of victims and expressed gratitude to President Bukele. “Thank you, Nayib Bukele, for having the courage to do what you are doing,” she wrote, highlighting his firm stance against national and transnational criminal structures.
On March 16, the U.S. government deported 261 individuals linked to criminal organizations, including 23 from MS-13 and 238 from Tren de Aragua. All were transferred to the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot) in Tecoluca, San Vicente, as part of El Salvador’s ongoing effort to neutralize violent groups.
Congresswoman Luna, who visited the Cecot during her recent trip to the country, praised Bukele’s leadership: “President Bukele has truly freed El Salvador from the deadly clutches of violent criminal terrorists and has restored hope to the people. I am honored to join him in the fight to achieve lasting peace and justice in this beautiful country.”
Former Congressman and caucus founder Matt Gaetz also commended Bukele’s approach, stating: “Thanks to President Bukele, the United States is now a safer country, because he is keeping deported criminals incarcerated.”
In an interview on El Salvador’s Channel 10, Luna added, “[President Bukele] is a beacon of light to help ensure security in the rest of the hemisphere. We are very pleased with his work and his leadership.”
Congressman Andy Ogles emphasized that El Salvador is now experiencing both public safety and economic development, while Congressman Vicente González noted the caucus’s efforts to lower the U.S. travel advisory for El Salvador. “El Salvador is one of the safest countries in the world. It is a safe place to travel, to invest, to take your family,” González affirmed.