U.S. Deportations of Salvadorans Nearly Double in First Quarter of 2026

U.S. authorities deported 5,033 Salvadorans between January and March 2026, marking a nearly 98 percent increase from the 2,547 recorded in the same period of 2025. These figures, provided by El Salvador’s migration authority, highlight a significant escalation in removals as President Nayib Bukele aligns his government with the Trump administration’s immigration priorities. This trend reflects a broader hardening of U.S. policy toward the region, part of the so-called Shield of Americas coalition. El Salvador has actively cooperated by accepting third-country nationals, including Venezuelans with alleged gang ties, into its high-security prisons under financial agreements with Washington. While migration from El Salvador had previously declined due to domestic gang crackdowns, poverty continues to drive emigration. The surge in deportations is straining local reintegration programs, which civil society groups report are underfunded and understaffed. Although U.S. officials have not released detailed 2026 data, arrival records confirm the upward trend. Both governments signal continued strong cooperation on security and migration control, despite concerns from NGOs regarding the humanitarian impact on returnees who often arrive with few resources.