The United States deported over 200 alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to El Salvador, where they were imprisoned in a maximum-security facility. President Nayib Bukele confirmed the move, sharing a video of shackled detainees being transferred to a heavily guarded convoy. The deportations occurred despite a US federal judge temporarily halting the expulsions, as planes were already en route to El Salvador.
President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime law allowing the detention or deportation of citizens from enemy nations. This marks only the fourth time the act has been used, following its application during World Wars I and II. Trump accused Tren de Aragua of waging “irregular warfare” against the US, allegedly under the direction of Venezuela’s Maduro regime.
The detainees were sent to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a mega-prison with windowless cells and strict conditions. Bukele, known for his tough stance on gangs, has faced criticism from human rights groups but remains popular domestically for reducing violent crime.
The deportation order applies to Tren de Aragua members over 14 who are not US citizens or permanent residents. Legal challenges by the ACLU and Democracy Forward argue the 1798 act is not meant for peacetime use, but Trump’s administration defended the move as necessary for public safety.
This controversial action highlights the complexities of immigration enforcement and international cooperation in combating organized crime.
