Trump Administration Faces Backlash Over Deportation of Venezuelan Migrants to El Salvador

Nearly 300 Venezuelans, many with no criminal records, were sent to a notorious Salvadoran prison under a rarely used law, drawing international condemnation and legal challenges.

The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport nearly 300 Venezuelan migrants, many accused of gang affiliation based on tattoos or superficial criteria.
Families and advocates argue that many deportees have no criminal records, were misidentified, and were removed without due process despite pending asylum claims.
The deportees are being held in El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center, a facility criticized for inhumane conditions, including overcrowding and lack of basic necessities.
A federal judge attempted to block the deportations, but the administration proceeded, citing national security concerns and claiming the migrants posed a threat.
The Venezuelan government and human rights groups have condemned the deportations as violations of international law, urging transparency and the return of the detained individuals.