Norma Torres Questions Secretary Rubio on Secret El Salvador Agreements

Allegations of Secret Agreements

• 📌 Representative Norma Torres directly questioned Secretary Marco Rubio regarding undisclosed agreements between the U.S. and El Salvador's President Bukele.
• ⚠️ Torres presented evidence, including news reports and affidavits, detailing alleged deals between Bukele and MS-13 gang leaders, suggesting these agreements involve hiding murderers from the public.

Past Stance vs. Current Actions

• 🎯 Torres reminded Rubio of his past strong stance against authoritarian leaders, including his support for her when she was targeted by Bukele.
• 🗣️ She expressed confusion and concern over Rubio now appearing to "shake hands and cut deals" with Bukele, facilitating what she described as an illegal rendition of a father to a torture prison in El Salvador.

Congressional Demand for Transparency

• 📜 Congress has repeatedly requested specific international agreements between the U.S. and El Salvador, as required by law, but these requests have allegedly been ignored by the State Department.
• 🤝 Torres directly asked Secretary Rubio to commit to handing over the requested agreement concerning El Salvador.

Secretary Rubio's Response

• ❓ Secretary Rubio stated he was unsure what specific agreements Torres was referring to.
• 🚢 He clarified that El Salvador agreed to take back Salvadoran nationals unlawfully in the U.S. with MS-13 ties, and also agreed to accept gang members from other countries like Venezuela.
• 💰 Additionally, the U.S. provided law enforcement funding to El Salvador, which the country is free to use for its jail system or other law enforcement functions.

Disputed Details of the Agreement

• 🚫 Torres contested Rubio's explanation, asserting that the agreements included sending MS-13 gang members to El Salvador at their request, even a member who committed murder in the U.S., to allegedly hide Bukele's ties to the gang.
• 💰 The discussion touched upon the amount of U.S. taxpayer money sent to Bukele's regime, with Rubio confirming law enforcement funding was provided, similar to other Central American countries, to manage gang members that Venezuela would not accept.