Trump Uses 1798 Law to Deport Venezuelan Gang Members Despite Court Block
Over 200 alleged members of Tren de Aragua were sent to El Salvador after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act, prompting legal and human rights challenges.
- President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport over 200 alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador, citing national security threats.
- A federal judge temporarily blocked the deportation order, but flights carrying detainees had already departed before the ruling was issued.
- The U.S. is reportedly paying El Salvador $6 million to detain the deportees for one year while deciding on long-term arrangements.
- Critics argue the Alien Enemies Act, historically used during wartime, is being misapplied and raises significant human rights concerns.
- El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, known for his hardline stance on gangs, has agreed to house the detainees in a maximum-security prison under controversial conditions.