The Trump administration has deported over 250 alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, despite a federal judge’s order temporarily blocking such actions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the deportations, stating, “Hundreds of violent criminals were sent out of our country.”
On Saturday evening, U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order halting the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. However, at the time of the ruling, two planes carrying the migrants were already en route—one to El Salvador and another to Honduras. Judge Boasberg verbally directed the planes to return, but this instruction was not included in his written order.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, an ally of President Trump, agreed to house approximately 300 migrants for a year at a cost of $6 million in the country’s prisons. Bukele commented on the situation, noting the timing of the court’s order relative to the flights.
The Alien Enemies Act, enacted in 1798, grants the president authority to detain or remove foreign nationals during wartime. Historically, it has been invoked during the War of 1812 and both World Wars. Its use in this context has drawn criticism. Venezuela’s government condemned the action, likening it to “the darkest episodes in human history.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which filed the lawsuit leading to Judge Boasberg’s order, is investigating whether the deportations violated the court’s directive. Lee Gelernt, the ACLU’s lead attorney, stated they are seeking clarification from the government regarding compliance with the court’s order.
The deported individuals are alleged members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that emerged from a prison in Aragua state and expanded amid Venezuela’s economic crisis. The U.S. administration has not publicly provided evidence confirming the individuals’ affiliations with the gang or any criminal activities within the United States.
Footage released by El Salvador’s government shows the deportees arriving under heavy security, being processed, and transported to prison facilities.
