Trump Administration’s Move to Deport MS-13 Leader Sparks Allegations of Government Collusion

The Trump administration is attempting to dismiss charges against Vladimir Antonio Arevalo-Chavez, a senior MS-13 gang leader, in order to deport him to El Salvador, according to recently unsealed court records. Critics allege this is part of a deal with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who reportedly negotiated with MS-13 in 2019 for reduced violence and political support in exchange for government concessions.
Arevalo-Chavez, who faces multiple federal charges in New York, is said to have intimate knowledge of this secret pact. The US justice department cited “geopolitical and national security concerns” as reasons for the dismissal, indicating a preference for prosecution in El Salvador. Critics argue that deporting Arevalo-Chavez would prevent him from testifying in the US and exposing details of Bukele’s dealings with the gang.
A federal judge has blocked his transfer to ICE custody, delaying the deportation. This follows a similar case earlier this year, fueling accusations of a coordinated effort to suppress information about Bukele’s ties to MS-13.