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A controversial decision by the Trump-era Justice Department may shield El Salvador’s president from scrutiny. Prosecutors are dropping terrorism charges against Vladimir Arevalo-Chavez—an MS-13 kingpin—in favor of deporting him back to El Salvador.
The move, described as based on “foreign policy interests,” is being slammed by human rights advocates and legal experts. They argue it’s a strategic maneuver to stop Arevalo-Chavez from exposing a 2019 deal between Bukele’s government and the gang.
That alleged pact gave MS-13 land and financial perks in return for curbing violence and swinging election outcomes. Deporting key witnesses could erase accountability.