Here we go with the summary of NY Times’s article about El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele and his stance on deportees.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele is a rising political star in Central America, known for his social media savvy and his populist rhetoric. However, his strict anti-immigrant policy has caused controversy. In a move seen by critics as an attempt to distract the public from domestic problems, Bukele recently ordered the roundup of 4,600 Central Americans, including hundreds of unaccompanied minors, who were living in shelters in El Salvador. This policy is in sharp contrast to that of the United States, where President Biden has sought to reverse some of the hardline anti-immigrant policies of his predecessor. Bukele has refused to budge, insisting that it’s up to him to decide who gets to live in El Salvador. However, his policy could lead to deportations of US-born children and discourage immigrants from coming to El Salvador for assistance, making it harder to deal with poverty and gang violence. Amid the pandemic, Honduran consular officials have expressed concern about the lack of medical care for those who have been detained. The Biden administration has temporarily halted some deportations to El Salvador, citing gang violence and political persecution. However, due to family reunification requests, Bukele has allowed in 60 US-born children who were facing immediate deportation by the US. El Salvador’s recent decision to accept limited asylum claims has been praised by the United States, but questions remain about how the asylum process will work and how Salvadorans get HIV, sterilization, and other medical services. Meanwhile, the situation in Haiti and Nicaragua compounds the challenges for the United States and its allies. Overall, Bukele’s hardline anti-immigrant policy has sparked international criticism and could have serious consequences for both El Salvador and the United States.
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