Planes carrying over 200 Venezuelans were deported from the United States to El Salvador, despite a federal judge’s order to halt the deportations. This incident took place on a Sunday morning, shortly after a ruling by Judge James Boasberg, who blocked the Trump administration from using an old wartime law to justify these actions.
Among those deported were members of the Tren de Aragua gang and the notorious MS-13 gang. El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, shared on social media that 238 members of Tren de Aragua and 23 from MS-13 had arrived in his country. He later joked about the situation, saying, "Oopsie… Too late," highlighting the timing of the deportations against the court’s order.
The U.S. government has been sending alleged criminals to El Salvador as part of a controversial agreement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised this arrangement, calling it unprecedented. Upon arrival, the deportees were taken to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot) for a year-long detention, which could be extended. Bukele noted that while the U.S. would pay a low fee for the deportees, the cost would be much higher for El Salvador.
The deportations raised questions about the legality of the actions taken by U.S. authorities. After the judge’s order, reports indicated that the planes carrying the deportees had already left. The Department of Justice had appealed the judge’s ruling, which allowed the deportations to proceed despite the legal objections.
Venezuela criticized the U.S. for invoking the wartime measure, arguing that it unjustly criminalizes migration from their country. They drew parallels to historical injustices, calling it reminiscent of slavery and concentration camps.
The swift transfer of deportees to a maximum-security facility reflects El Salvador’s ongoing efforts to combat organized crime. The Cecot facility, which can hold up to 40,000 inmates, has faced criticism from human rights groups over the treatment of detainees.
This incident underscores the complicated relationship between the U.S. and Central American countries regarding immigration and crime. It also highlights the ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to crack down on illegal immigration, a key promise made during his campaign. However, recent reports suggest that deportation numbers have not met expectations, raising further questions about the effectiveness of these policies.