The Trump administration has proceeded with the deportation of hundreds of migrants to El Salvador, even as a federal judge temporarily blocked such removals. The deportations occurred just as U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg issued an order on Saturday halting deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime law invoked by President Trump to target Venezuelan gang members, specifically members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
Despite the court’s ruling, two deportation flights were already en route — one to El Salvador and the other to Honduras. Boasberg verbally instructed the planes to turn around, but the directive was not included in his written order, and the flights continued.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, a Trump ally, expressed defiance on social media, commenting on the timing of the court ruling, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the deportations, citing agreements to house the migrants in Salvadoran prisons at a cost of $6 million for one year.
The legal action stems from a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, which argued that the deportations violated constitutional protections. ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt said that they were investigating whether the court’s order was disregarded by the administration.
The Alien Enemies Act, historically used during wartime, allows the U.S. president to remove foreigners deemed a threat to national security. It was most notably used during World War II, but critics argue its use today could violate the rights of migrants, especially those who may be falsely labeled as gang members without evidence.
The Trump administration has not provided any evidence that the deported migrants are members of Tren de Aragua or involved in criminal activities. Some of the deportees were transferred to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison, a key element of Bukele’s hardline approach to crime.
Judge Boasberg has scheduled a hearing on Friday to discuss the legality of the deportations, emphasizing that migrants must have the opportunity to challenge their removal before being sent abroad. The current ban on deportations will remain in place for up to 14 days.
This ongoing legal battle underscores the tension between immigration policies and judicial oversight, as the Trump administration faces scrutiny for its aggressive deportation efforts under the wartime law.
