Trump Administration Deports 17 Alleged Gang Members to El Salvador

The deportations, conducted under Title 8 rather than the Alien Enemies Act, continue to face legal and human rights scrutiny.

The Trump administration transferred 17 alleged members of Tren de Aragua and MS-13 to El Salvador on Sunday night, citing their designation as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
The deportations were carried out under Title 8 immigration authorities, avoiding the legally contested Alien Enemies Act, which remains blocked by federal courts.
Critics, including the ACLU, have raised concerns about ICE's points-based system used to identify gang members, arguing it relies on subjective criteria like tattoos and clothing.
Human rights advocates warn that deportees sent to El Salvador's CECOT prison face inhumane conditions, including overcrowding and torture.
The administration has appealed to the Supreme Court to reinstate its use of the Alien Enemies Act, while continuing deportations through other legal channels.