Amid the Trump administration’s aggressive actions, numerous immigrants were recently transferred to El Salvador despite a federal judge temporarily halting the deportations. The U.S. District Court, led by Judge James E. Boasberg, issued an injunction to pause these actions, purportedly carried out under an outdated wartime directive aimed at Venezuelan gang members. When the ruling was made, two flights carrying immigrants were already airborne.
Judge Boasberg’s order was communicated on Saturday, just as two planes, one bound for El Salvador and another for Honduras, were in transit. Although the judge verbally directed the planes to return, this command wasn’t included in his written order and it appears it was not heeded. In response, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed claims of court order violation, stating, “The administration did not ‘refuse to comply’ with a court order. The order, which had no lawful basis, was issued after terrorist aliens had already been removed from U.S. territory.” She referenced the Tren de Aragua gang, which was named in a rare presidential proclamation by Trump.
In its subsequent legal endeavors, the Department of Justice revealed it would not utilize Trump’s blocked proclamation for further deportations while challenging Boasberg’s decision. Meanwhile, Trump remained non-committal when questioned about possibly disobeying a court directive, remarking that such inquiries should be directed to legal experts. He insisted his course of action against what he referred to as “bad people” was justified.
On the diplomatic front, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele expressed satisfaction with the deportations and agreed to detain about 300 immigrants in his nation for a year. Congressional allies like Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the decision, citing savings on taxpayer dollars.
Legal experts like Georgetown University’s Steve Vladeck criticized the administration for ignoring the intent of Boasberg’s verbal directive, which could prompt future courts to devise more explicit and stringent orders. The controversy stems from the use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, invoked only a few times in U.S. history during significant conflicts, including World Wars. Critics in Venezuela, including its government, denounced the act’s invocation, comparing it to dark historical episodes.
Tren de Aragua, a gang that originated in a lawless prison, became a focal point during Trump’s campaign rhetoric, though the administration failed to provide concrete evidence linking deported immigrants with the gang. This action also included transferring members of the Salvadoran MS-13 gang from the U.S. to El Salvador.
Video footage from El Salvador illustrates the deportation process as men shackled at the hands and ankles were taken off planes. This footage shows them being escorted to prisons, with authorities ensuring compliance through rigorous security measures. They were subsequently processed into Salvadoran detention facilities, which form part of President Bukele’s strategy to control crime through severe policing tactics.
The Trump administration indicated that the proclamation was signed Friday night but publicized on Saturday, while immigration advocates noticed a significant shift, notably with Venezuelans relocated for potential deportations. Human rights groups warned about the broad implications of the act, which may lead to Venezuelans being deported under dubious connections to Tren de Aragua.
The legal suit that triggered the deportation hold involved five Venezuelans in Texas suspected of false gang affiliation. Judge Boasberg extended protection to all potentially targeted individuals in custody, arguing that President Trump might have overreached by using this law outside of formal wartime conditions declared by Congress. The deportation pause is set for up to 14 days, and those targeted will stay in federal custody for now. A follow-up hearing is slated to further scrutinize this matter, defending the immigrants’ rights to contest their expulsions legally.
Judge Boasberg emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that once individuals are deported, their potential constitutional violations would become nearly irreparable.