US Defies Court Order, Begins Mass Deportations Of Venezuelans, Details Emerge
- The Trump administration deported hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members despite a federal judge’s ruling to halt the removals
- White House Justifies Action: Officials claim the deportations occurred before the court order took effect, while the DOJ appeals the ruling
- Legal & Political Fallout: The move, carried out under a rarely used 1798 law, has sparked debate over presidential powers, immigration policy, and due process
The Trump administration has deported hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members to a supermax prison in El Salvador, despite a federal court order temporarily blocking the removals.
US District Judge James E. Boasberg had issued the ruling on Saturday to halt the deportations, but government lawyers informed the court that two planes carrying immigrants had already departed—one bound for El Salvador, the other for Honduras.
White House defends actions
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration’s move, stating that the deportations had already taken place before the court’s decision, BBC reported.
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"The administration did not 'refuse to comply' with a court order. The order, which had no lawful basis, was issued after terrorist TdA (Tren de Aragua gang) aliens had already been removed from US territory," Leavitt said on Sunday.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has since filed an appeal against Judge Boasberg’s decision, Sky News reported.
In a court filing on Sunday, the DOJ assured that it would not conduct further deportations under the blocked Trump proclamation unless the ruling is overturned.
Trump calls the crisis an 'invasion'
President Donald Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, declined to directly address whether his administration had violated the court order.
Instead, he underscored the urgency of the deportations, framing the situation as a national security concern.
"This is a time of war. We are facing an invasion of criminal migrants," Trump said.
El Salvador’s response
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who agreed to house about 300 deportees in his country’s prisons for a year at a cost of $6 million, reacted to the legal battle with a pointed remark.
"Oopsie...Too late," Bukele posted on X (formerly Twitter), referencing Judge Boasberg’s ruling.
Among those deported were also two top members of the Salvadoran MS-13 gang who had been arrested in the US.
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However, the Trump administration has not provided evidence confirming that all deportees were members of the Tren de Aragua gang or had committed crimes in the US.
Historic legal precedent
The deportations were carried out under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a rarely used law invoked only three times in US history—during the War of 1812 and both World Wars.
Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang at the center of the controversy, originated in a lawless prison in Aragua state and expanded as Venezuela's economy collapsed.
The deportations have sparked renewed debate over the use of presidential powers, the due process rights of immigrants, and the impact of US immigration policies on international relations.
As of now, the Trump administration remains firm in its stance, while legal experts and human rights advocates closely monitor the evolving situation.
Trump begins massive sacking of staff at Voice of America
Previously, Legit.ng reported that the Trump administration on Sunday, March 16, initiated mass layoffs at Voice of America (VOA) and other US-funded media, signaling a broader effort to restructure the outlets long regarded as key instruments of US influence.
The move came just a day after all employees were placed on leave, with contractual staff receiving termination notices stating that their employment would officially end by March.
