US Deportations to El Salvador Jump 98% in First Quarter of 2026

The United States deported 5,033 Salvadorans between January and March 2026, a 98% increase from the 2,547 returned in the same period of 2025, according to figures from El Salvador’s migration authority.

The surge coincides with a broader rise in U.S. deportation flights, which rose about 61% worldwide between 2024 and 2025, and reflects a hardening U.S. immigration stance toward the region, as noted by migration‑advocacy groups. President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador has aligned his government with the Trump administration’s immigration agenda, welcoming accelerated removals and accepting third‑country nationals under a reported $6 million deal to house foreign offenders in Salvadoran high‑security prisons.

The rapid increase places pressure on El Salvador’s reintegration programs, which already operate with limited funding and staff. Roughly one‑fifth of the deportees have criminal convictions, while the majority are removed for immigration violations. About 200,000 Salvadorans in the United States hold temporary protected status that is currently being challenged in U.S. courts, adding further uncertainty for the diaspora.