Immigration security

U.S. signs asylum deal with El Salvador to deter migrants despite violence there

The Trump administration on Friday announced it had brokered an immigration accord with El Salvador designed to ensure the government of this small Central American country — one the most dangerous nations in the Western Hemisphere — offers refuge to migrants from all corners of the world journeying to the U.S. 

The deal, unveiled by Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, is one of several controversial multilateral accords the administration has sought to forge with countries in Central America's so-called Northern Triangle to curb migration of families to the U.S., which skyrocketed in May but has decreased in recent months. 

McAleenan, who has spent much of his interim tenure leading diplomatic engagements with countries where the bulk of U.S.-bound migrants are coming from or transiting through, helped broker a similar "safe third country" deal earlier in the summer with Guatemala.