President of ‘world’s worst prison’ where Trump could now send US citizens vows to double size to fit 80k inmates

The President of El Salvador plans to double the size of his nation's notorious mega-prison to cram even more criminals in there, according to reports.

Nayib Bukele, who opened the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) as part of his crackdown on crime in 2023, is said to be very keen on expanding the place.

It's already one of the largest prisons on the planet and has the capacity to house 40,000 people, but it appears that El Salvador could now be gearing up for an influx of international inmates.

Bukele revealed earlier this year that he has offered the US 'the opportunity to outsource part of its prison system', with the countries striking a controversial deal back in February, however, they'd only take in 'convicted criminals' and for 'a fee'.

Donald Trump's Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, described it as the 'most unprecedented, extraordinary, extraordinary migratory agreement anywhere in the world'.

CECOT currently has the capacity for 40,000 inmates (Alex Peña/Getty Images)

"We can send them and he will put them in his jails," Rubio said previously, with the main targets being suspected gang members from other countries.

However, even US citizens and legal residents who are currently in custody in the States could face being shipped off to the maximum security CECOT, where conditions are less than favourable.

Rubio explained last month that El Salvador has also offered to 'do the same for dangerous criminals currently in custody and serving their sentences in the United States'.

And Trump himself has been rubbing his hands together at the prospect of sending prisoners to the 23-hectare prison.

As he met with Bukele in the White House on Monday (14 April), the President told his El Salvadorian counterpart that he needs 'to build about five more places', and when asked if that meant incarcerating US citizens in El Salvador, he responded (via The Independent): "I’m all for it."

Trump then chillingly stated that 'the home growns' should be next, as he added: "I just asked [Bukele] - it’s this massive complex that he built, jail complex - I said, 'Can you build some more of them please?’ As many as we can get out of our country."

Despite Bukele telling him there was 'space' to accommodate more inmates, Trump responded: "It's not big enough."

And according to reports, Bukele now intends to fulfil Trump's request by expanding the current prison complex and making it twice the size.

He filled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in on his plans during her visit to CECOT last month, the Wall Street Journal reports.

El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, reportedly plans to double the size of the mega-prison (Camilo Freedman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

During her visit, she filmed a controversial video while using inmates packed into a cell as a backdrop, while sending a harsh warning to non-Americans who are on US soil.

The Trump administration has already sent hundreds of alleged gang members to the prison this year and is paying millions to do so - but it seems the government is eager to set up more one-way flights packed with prisoners.

"We have no plans to bring them back, this is a long-term solution," Noem told the Wall Street Journal following her discussion with Bukele. "He has plans to double the size [of CECOT].

"He has 80-plus acres there that he’s going to continue to build on."

CECOT, which is located in the area of Tecoluca, was erected in the space of just seven months and it reportedly cost $115 million to develop and kit out with state-of-the-art security systems.

Bukele previously stated that 'gang members will spend their entire lives in prison', while Justice minister Gustavo Villatoro said in 2023 that officials 'will make sure none of those who enter the CECOT ever leave on foot'.

LADbible Group has contacted the El Salvadorian government for comment.