The Trump administration has deported hundreds of illegal immigrants to El Salvador even as a federal judge issued an order temporarily barring the flights under an 18th century wartime declaration targeting Venezuelan gang members, officials said Sunday. Flights were in the air at the time of the ruling.
This occurred despite an emergency order issued by Judge Boasberg at the request of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to halt the deportations and return the gang members to the U.S.
Deportation of Tren de Aragua and MS-13 Gang Members
According to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the deportees included members of the violent Tren de Aragua gang from Venezuela, as well as several MS-13 gang members and some of the most wanted fugitives. These deportations were authorized by President Donald Trump under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a move that has been met with both praise and intense legal opposition.
El Salvador receives members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua who were deported by President Trump, screen image via President Nayib Bukele, posted March 16, 2025
Despite Judge Boasberg’s last-minute intervention in Trump decision, the flights successfully landed, and the illegal immigrants were immediately