A plane carrying more than 200 Venezuelan migrants deported by the United States landed in El Salvador on Sunday, just hours after a U.S. federal judge ordered the Trump administration to halt such deportations.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele confirmed the arrival of the deportees, stating that 238 members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and 23 members of the Mexican gang MS-13 had been transferred to his country. The detainees were immediately taken to El Salvador’s maximum-security Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot), where they will be held for at least one year, with the possibility of an extension.
Court Blocks Deportations, But Too Late
The deportation came despite a ruling issued late Saturday by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who blocked President Donald Trump from using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify the removals. The centuries-old law allows the U.S. government to detain and deport individuals deemed a threat to national security without due process.
The judge reportedly ordered flights carrying deportees to be turned back, but at least one plane had already landed in El Salvador by the time the ruling was issued. In a social media post mocking the court’s decision, Bukele wrote: “Oopsie… Too late.”
Strengthening US-El Salvador Ties
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the deportations and thanked Bukele for his cooperation, calling him “the strongest security leader in our region.” He did not acknowledge the court ruling but defended the move, stating: “Hundreds of violent criminals were sent out of our country.”
The deportation agreement reflects growing diplomatic ties between the U.S. and El Salvador. Rubio, who recently assumed his role as the top U.S. diplomat, visited El Salvador in February as part of his first international tour. During the visit, Bukele reportedly offered to accept deported individuals in exchange for financial support to maintain the Cecot facility.
Harsh Conditions in El Salvador’s Mega-Jail
A video shared on Bukele’s social media shows deportees shackled and escorted off the plane by armed officers before being placed into buses and armored vehicles. The footage also captures a long convoy of security forces leading them to Cecot, the controversial prison that has become a symbol of Bukele’s tough-on-crime policies.
The facility, which can hold up to 40,000 inmates, has drawn criticism from human rights organizations for alleged mistreatment of detainees. Despite concerns, Bukele has defended the prison as essential for combating organized crime in El Salvador.
Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Faces Challenges
The latest deportations align with Trump’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration. In January, he officially designated Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as foreign terrorist organizations. The president’s second term has been marked by promises to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.
However, reports suggest that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have fallen short of Trump’s ambitious targets. A recent analysis found that in February 2025, ICE deported 11,000 immigrants—fewer than the 12,000 deported during the same month under President Joe Biden in 2024.
Despite these setbacks, the administration continues to push forward with its immigration policies, with El Salvador now playing a key role in handling deported individuals.
