The Trump administration deported hundreds of alleged gang members, primarily Venezuelans, to a prison in El Salvador on Sunday, invoking wartime powers despite a federal court ruling that temporarily blocked the move.
A federal judge, James Boasberg, issued a restraining order on Saturday evening halting the use of the Alien Enemies Act to justify the deportations. He also ordered any planes already in the air to turn back. However, some flights reportedly continued despite the ruling.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump defended the deportations, calling the individuals “bad people” and insisting the action was necessary to combat what he described as an “invasion” of criminals.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the administration did not violate the ruling, arguing that the court order was issued after the flights had already left U.S. soil. She dismissed the decision as lacking a legal basis.
The Department of Homeland Security reported arresting nearly 300 members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua over the weekend. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the deportees had been sent to El Salvador, thanking President Nayib Bukele for accepting them.
Bukele, who has taken a hardline approach to gang violence, announced that the alleged gang members were transferred to the Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT) for at least a year. He also revealed that El Salvador would receive $6 million from the U.S. to help house the deportees.
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