A flight transporting over 200 Venezuelans deported by the United States has landed in El Salvador, seemingly disregarding a court order that prohibited such actions. This development raises significant legal and humanitarian questions regarding the US government’s deportation practices.
Details of the Deportation
On Sunday morning, El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, announced via social media that 238 members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, in addition to 23 members of the Mexican gang MS-13, had arrived in the country. This transfer occurred mere hours after a federal judge issued a ruling blocking President Donald Trump from utilizing a centuries-old wartime law to facilitate the deportations.
“Oopsie… Too late,” Bukele quipped in a subsequent post, highlighting the timing of the deportations.
Upon their arrival, the detainees were swiftly moved to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, where they are set to be held for a renewable period of one year. Bukele commented on the financial implications of these deportations, stating, “The United States will pay a very low fee for them, but a high one for us.”
Legal Challenges and Political Responses
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the arrival of the alleged gang members in El Salvador and expressed gratitude towards Bukele, referring to him as “the strongest security leader in our region.” This statement underscores the ongoing collaboration between the two countries on security issues, despite the legal turmoil surrounding the deportations.
Earlier on Saturday evening, US District Judge James Boasberg ordered a cessation of deportations that fell under Trump’s proclamation, which invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. This controversial law grants the government the authority to detain and deport individuals deemed a threat to national security without the usual due process protections.
Judge Boasberg’s ruling came after reports indicated that planes carrying deportees were already in the air, prompting him to demand their return. A video shared by Bukele shows groups of individuals, shackled and escorted by armed officials, being transferred from the plane to armored vehicles, providing a stark visual representation of the situation.
In January, Trump had signed an executive order designating Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as foreign terrorist organizations, further complicating the legal landscape surrounding these deportations and raising concerns about human rights implications.