US President Donald Trump has proposed sending American citizens convicted of crimes to foreign prisons, claiming it would be a cheaper and more effective deterrent to crime. Trump made the suggestion on Tuesday, following an offer from El Salvador's president to take in US criminals.
Trump cited the example of a man pushing another person into a subway in New York City, arguing that such individuals are "hardened criminals" who should be removed from the US. He stated that the plan would only apply to "the most severe cases" and that "other countries" would be willing to take them in.
Trump also suggested that the plan would be a cost-effective alternative to the US prison system, claiming that it would be "a lot less expensive" than housing criminals in American jails.
The president's proposal has drawn criticism from some legal experts, who argue that it would violate international law and raise serious human rights concerns.