On Monday, former President Donald Trump reaffirmed his controversial plan to send U.S. citizens accused of violent crimes to prisons abroad. In a conversation with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele — captured in a video released by Bukele’s office on X — Trump declared that “homegrown criminals” would be next in line for deportation.

During Bukele’s visit to the White House, amid tensions over a Supreme Court decision regarding a wrongly deported Maryland migrant, Trump pushed his idea further. While chatting in the Oval Office before press entry, he urged Bukele to prepare for an influx of American prisoners.

“Homegrown criminals next,” Trump said. “You gotta build about five more places.” Bukele responded with a casual “alright,” while laughter echoed in the room. Trump added, “It’s not big enough.”

Though legal scholars have dismissed the concept as clearly unconstitutional, Trump’s administration continues to explore the idea. Speaking to reporters later, Trump said his legal team, led by Pam Bondi, was actively “studying” whether it could be done.

“If it’s a homegrown criminal, I have no problem,” Trump stated. “We’re talking about extremely violent people. The worst of the worst.”

Bukele, supportive of the idea, responded with enthusiasm. “You have 350 million people to liberate,” he told Trump. “But to liberate them, some must be imprisoned.”

While Secretary of State Marco Rubio has acknowledged the “extraordinary friendship” in Bukele’s proposal to host U.S. inmates, he also warned that the legal implications remain a serious barrier.