The first immigrants deported from America have arrived in El Salvador after Donald Trump defied a judge’s order.
The controversial move, which saw 238 alleged criminals flown to one of the world’s most notorious mega-prisons, has sparked a political firestorm, with Trump doubling down on his decision and the Biden administration facing blame for their presence in the U.S.
The deportation was carried out under a rarely used 18th-century law intended for wartime scenarios, per the Independent.
The Trump administration justified the move by claiming the U.S. is facing an “invasion” from violent criminal organizations with links to kidnappings, contract killings, and organized crime.
However, a federal judge attempted to block the order, ruling against the deportation while the plane was already in international airspace. The Trump administration denied violating the ruling, insisting that it had acted lawfully.
The immigrants were swiftly transferred to El Salvador’s infamous maximum-security Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT) after a deal was brokered between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.
Bukele, who has led an aggressive crackdown on gangs in El Salvador, personally shared images and videos of the alleged criminals being handcuffed and escorted from the plane into the high-security facility.
He confirmed their arrival on social media, writing: “The first 238 members of the Venezuelan criminal organization have landed… The United States will pay a very low fee for them, but a high one for us.”
Bukele continued, defending his decision to accept the inmates: “As always, we continue advancing in the fight against organized crime. But this time, we are also helping our allies, making our prison system self-sustainable, and obtaining vital intelligence to make our country an even safer place. All in a single action.
“May God bless El Salvador, and may God bless the United States.”
After Bukele’s announcement, Trump took to Truth Social to claim that the alleged gang members were “monsters” who had been allowed into the U.S. by Joe Biden and the Democrats.
“These are monsters sent into our Country by Crooked Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats. How dare they!”
Trump went on to personally thank El Salvador and President Bukele for their cooperation, adding: “Thank you to El Salvador, and in particular President Bukele, for your understanding of this horrible situation, which was allowed to happen to the United States because of Democrat leadership. We will not forget.”
Despite the federal judge’s ruling against the deportation, the Trump administration maintains it did nothing wrong, per Sky News.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt released a statement denying that the administration defied a court order, arguing that federal courts have no authority over presidential foreign affairs decisions.
“A single judge in a single city cannot direct the movements of an aircraft carrier full of foreign alien terrorists who were physically expelled from US soil.”
Meanwhile, Marco Rubio defended the move, saying: “Hundreds of violent criminals were sent out of our country. I want to express my sincere gratitude to President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador for playing a pivotal role in this transfer.”
The Tren de Aragua is a notorious Venezuelan criminal organization, accused of being involved in human trafficking, drug smuggling, contract killings, and kidnappings.
Trump has claimed that the gang has direct ties to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and has used mass illegal migration to spread its influence across the U.S.
Under his order, any Venezuelan citizen aged 14 or older found to be a member of Tren de Aragua can now be: “Apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies.”
Justifying his decision, Trump declared: “Over the years, Venezuelan national and local authorities have ceded ever-greater control over their territories to transnational criminal organizations, including TdA.
The result is a hybrid criminal state that is perpetrating an invasion of and predatory incursion into the United States, and which poses a substantial danger to the United States.”
The CECOT mega-prison – where the 238 deported men have been sent – is notorious for its brutal conditions.
The facility, which opened in 2023, is one of the largest prisons in the world, currently holding tens of thousands of accused gang members under extreme security measures.
However, the prison has been heavily criticized for inhumane conditions.
Cells are severely overcrowded, food is minimal, consisting mainly of beans and pasta, and inmates are forced to fight over food and water.
Miguel Sarre, a former member of the United Nations Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture, previously described the facility as: “A concrete and steel pit.”
