United States has deported more than 200 alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to El Salvador, where they were transferred to a high-security prison, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele confirmed on Sunday.
President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act on Friday to expedite the deportation of suspected gang members, bypassing traditional immigration processes. The gang, known for its involvement in kidnapping, extortion, organized crime, and contract killings, has been a growing concern for US authorities.
However, a federal judge in Washington, DC, issued a 14-day injunction against the law’s application, arguing that it pertains to “hostile acts” by a foreign nation on the scale of war. Despite this ruling, Bukele indicated that deportation efforts had already been completed, responding to the court order with a post on X stating, “Oopsie…too late.”
According to Bukele, 238 alleged Tren de Aragua members were taken to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center a high-security prison capable of housing 40,000 inmates where they will be held for an initial one-year period, subject to renewal. Additionally, both Bukele and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that 23 members of the Salvadoran gang MS-13 were also deported.
US reportedly agreed to pay El Salvador $6 million to imprison 300 alleged Tren de Aragua members for one year, according to the Associated Press. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s government condemned the use of what it called an “anachronistic” law, stating that the move violated migrants’ rights.
The Trump administration has since filed an appeal against the judge’s decision, seeking to reinstate the emergency deportation policy amid ongoing legal challenges.
