President Donald Trump’s administration recently deported members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to El Salvador, despite a court order that sought to block their removal. This action is part of a broader trend under Trump’s leadership, which has focused on expelling certain foreign nationals, including those undocumented or involved in protests.
El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, confirmed that 238 members of Tren de Aragua and 23 individuals from the Salvadoran gang MS-13 were received from the US. Bukele made a deal with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to imprison these gang members, stating they would be held at the Centre for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT) for at least a year.
The recent deportations were justified by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a law that allows the president to detain or deport noncitizens during wartime. This act has rarely been used, only during specific historical conflicts. Critics argue that invoking such a wartime measure during peacetime is a significant overreach. The Brennan Center for Justice warned that it sets a dangerous precedent for ignoring conventional immigration law.
After Trump’s decree, federal Judge James Boasberg issued a restraining order to halt further deportations under this act. However, hours later, Bukele announced that the deportations had already taken place, sharing a mocking tweet about the ruling.
Many experts have weighed in on the legality of these actions. Patrick Eddington from the Cato Institute stated that Trump’s administration openly defied the judge’s order, which he described as unprecedented. Conversely, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt argued that the deportees were already removed before the judge’s order, implying no conflict existed.
Legal scholars like Bruce Fein and Steve Vladeck expressed differing views on the authority of the court, emphasizing that the president is not above the law. They indicated that the judge’s jurisdiction continues even if deportees had already left US airspace.
This situation highlights the complicated geopolitical dynamics at play. Venezuela typically refuses to accept deportees, leading the US to seek third-country solutions. Over the past month, approximately 350 Venezuelan nationals were returned to Venezuela, highlighting the ongoing immigration challenges.
The CECOT, where the deportees are being held, is a strict facility with no visitation and little in the way of rehabilitation. Opened in January 2023, it’s a response to rising violence, with space for 40,000 inmates.
Tren de Aragua, formed in a Venezuelan prison in 2014, is now designated as a foreign terrorist organization. It has been linked to various criminal activities and allegations of operating alongside the military-supported Cartel de los Soles.
As these events unfold, Trump’s legal battles are expected to continue as he seeks to challenge the court’s orders. The outcome could significantly impact immigration policy and the administration’s approach to issues involving national security and foreign relations.
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Source linkNews, Courts, Crime, Donald Trump, Government, Migration, Politics, Prison, El Salvador, Latin America, United States, US & Canada
