The Trump administration deported nearly 300 alleged gang members to El Salvador on Sunday, citing wartime powers under the Alien Enemies Act, despite a federal judge’s ruling temporarily blocking the move.
The deportees, mostly Venezuelan and accused of ties to the Tren de Aragua gang, were sent to a high-security prison in El Salvador, raising legal and human rights concerns.
US District Judge James Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order on Saturday evening, stating that any planes carrying deportees must turn back. However, the administration proceeded with the removals, arguing that the court order was issued after the flights had already left US territory. Trump defended the decision, calling the deportees “bad people” and labeling the situation at the border an “invasion.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted the administration did not violate the judge’s order, claiming it had “no lawful basis.” Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele for accepting the deportees and housing them at the Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT). The US agreed to pay El Salvador $6 million to help sustain the prison system.
Bukele confirmed the arrival of the detainees in a post on X, sharing footage of them being processed at the prison. The prison, known for its harsh conditions, houses up to 40,000 inmates and has been criticized for human rights violations. Rights groups have expressed concerns about the treatment of prisoners under El Salvador’s anti-gang crackdown, which has led to the mass incarceration of over 80,000 people.
The legal battle over the deportations is expected to escalate. Judge Boasberg could impose stricter compliance measures or hold administration officials in contempt if he determines they knowingly defied his order.
Legal analysts have pointed out that verbal court orders carry the same legal weight as written ones, challenging the administration’s justification for proceeding with the deportations.
The controversial move has sparked sharp political reactions. GOP Senator Mike Rounds defended the deportations, saying, “Most Americans don’t care how old the law is—as long as it keeps their families safe.” Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned against the risk of breaking up lawful immigrant families and potentially deporting American citizens.
As the legal and political battles unfold, the deported individuals now face an uncertain future in El Salvador’s notorious prison system. Critics argue the move not only challenges US legal norms but also raises ethical questions about outsourcing mass incarceration to foreign governments
