Trump Plans to Appoint Troy Edgar as Ambassador to El Salvador

/ Reports from CBS News

President Trump has plans to nominate the current deputy secretary of Homeland Security as the United States envoy to El Salvador. This represents a significant reorganization within the department, according to sources familiar with the matter who shared this information with CBS News.

Troy Edgar, who was officially confirmed by the Senate in March, now stands ready to take on the new position without needing further confirmation. Although the exact start date is still under wraps, insiders indicate that Edgar's transition could happen very soon.

Neither the White House nor the Department of Homeland Security have released immediate responses. Sources suggest that Edgar and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have maintained a positive working relationship.

Under the Trump administration, El Salvador has been notably involved in efforts to reduce illegal immigration. In March, the president employed the Alien Enemies Act, a statute from the wartime era, to attempt deportations of alleged Tren de Aragua gang members to a high-security facility in El Salvador. CBS News has reported that several deportees have no recorded criminal offenses.

Those detained were exchanged back to Venezuela in a deal arranged by the U.S. over the summer. Recent findings by human rights organizations have accused the treatment of these Venezuelan detainees of constituting arbitrary detention, torture, and forced disappearances on the international stage.

In April, President Trump held discussions with El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele. Known for his populist approach, Bukele has gained support from conservative circles in the U.S. for his aggressive stance on criminal gangs through measures allowing law enforcement to make arrests based on suspected gang ties without standard judicial processes.

The administration recently finalized an agreement framework involving South and Central American nations, including El Salvador.

During President Trump's initial term, Edgar managed roles such as chief financial officer of the agency and served as an associate deputy undersecretary, with oversight of a substantial $90 billion budget that included financing for border infrastructure and immigration initiatives.

There has been a recent surge in immigration enforcement activities by federal authorities, with Minneapolis-St. Paul witnessing increased operations. Meanwhile, New Orleans, a city led by Democratic officials, has similarly experienced heightened immigration oversight.