In a contentious move, the Trump administration deported hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members to a prison in El Salvador on Sunday, despite a federal court ruling halting the removals. The deportees, believed to be part of the Tren de Aragua gang, were sent after President Trump invoked wartime powers under the Alien Enemies Act, a law dating back to the 18th century.
The deportations sparked a dramatic showdown between the White House and the judiciary. On Saturday evening, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order blocking the use of the Alien Enemies Act to expel the migrants. The judge ordered that any planes already in the air carrying the deportees return to the U.S. However, according to reports, the planes had already departed, and the administration proceeded with the removals.
Judge Boasberg’s order is set to remain in effect for 14 days, or until further court action is taken. He expressed urgency during the hearing, stating, “Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned to the United States.”
Despite the court order, President Trump defended the use of the Alien Enemies Act, calling the deportees “bad people” and labeling the situation as an “invasion.” The Trump administration argued that the judge’s order was issued too late to prevent the deportations, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claiming there was no violation of the ruling. “The order, which had no lawful basis, was issued after the migrants had already been expelled,” Leavitt said.
El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, welcomed the deportees, announcing that they had been transferred to the Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT) for a one-year period. Bukele shared footage on social media showing the detainees being escorted off buses in handcuffs, heads shaved. The U.S. government is paying $6 million to El Salvador to house the deportees, which will assist the country’s prison system.
The deportations underscore the ongoing tension between U.S. immigration policies and the judiciary, as well as the cooperation between Trump’s administration and the Salvadoran government. The incident highlights the administration’s aggressive stance on immigration and its growing partnership with El Salvador to address gang violence.
