El Salvador President Bukele Announces 5,000 Free Passports for Skilled Immigrants

El Salvador President, Nayib Bukele has announced that the Central American country is offering 5,000 free passports to highly skilled immigrants, equivalent to the tune of $5 billion in the country’s passport program.

We’re offering 5,000 free passports (equivalent to $5 billion in our passport program) to highly skilled scientists, engineers, doctors, artists, and philosophers from abroad. This represents less than 0.1 percent of our population, so granting them full citizen status, including voting rights, poses no issue, Bukele wrote.

“Despite the small number, their contributions will have a huge impact on our society and the future of our country,” he said.

“Plus, we will facilitate their relocation by ensuring 0 percent taxes and tariffs on moving families and assets. This includes commercial value items like equipment, software, and intellectual property. Stay tuned for more details,” Bukele added.

We're offering 5,000 free passports (equivalent to $5 billion in our passport program) to highly skilled scientists, engineers, doctors, artists, and philosophers from abroad.

This represents less than 0.1% of our population, so granting them full citizen status, including…

— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) April 6, 2024

Bukele thinks that despite 5,000 being a small percentage of the country’s population, immigrants’ contributions will have a “huge impact” on the nation’s society and future.

This announcement follows a two-year crackdown on gang violence in the nation that raised concerns about human rights but also eliminated violence and raised El Salvador’s security risk rating from high to medium.

Also, the crackdown has enabled about 75% reduction in immigrants turned gang members following thousands of arrests, leaving many to flee the country.

Meanwhile, with El Salvador’s new free passports program, Bukele tends to increase its population with highly skilled scientists, engineers, doctors, artists, and philosophers from abroad with a promise to “facilitate their relocation with 0% taxes and tariffs on moving families and assets.

“This includes commercial value items like equipment, software, and intellectual property,” says Bukele.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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