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The Trump White House is drawing heavy criticism for trying to deport a top MS-13 figure, Vladimir Arevalo-Chavez, rather than prosecute him for terrorism and racketeering. The move comes despite his deep knowledge of a 2019 gang deal with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
Prosecutors say the charges are being dropped due to “foreign policy considerations.” Critics say it’s really about protecting Bukele from a scandal that could unravel regional security partnerships—and potentially U.S. credibility.
This isn’t the first such case: in March, another MS-13 leader was deported under similar conditions, fueling accusations that Trump’s foreign policy favors political allies over criminal accountability.