The United States has deported more than 250 alleged gang members to El Salvador, despite a federal judge’s order to halt such actions. Among those deported were 238 members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and 21 members of MS-13. They were immediately transferred to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a maximum-security prison known for housing the country’s most dangerous criminals.
The move was carried out under the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a rarely invoked wartime authority. This expedited the deportations, bypassing standard legal proceedings.
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The decision has sparked significant controversy, as it was executed in defiance of a temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge. Human rights organizations have criticized the action, pointing to reports that prisoners in CECOT are often held without due process. Concerns have also been raised about conditions within the prison, where over 100 inmates have reportedly died.
This development has intensified debates over immigration policy and human rights, with critics warning that such actions set a dangerous precedent. The US government has yet to respond to growing backlash from legal and advocacy groups.
