The Trump administration has completed the deportation of seventeen individuals associated with the notorious MS-13 and Tren de Aragua gangs to El Salvador. The operation took place over the weekend and was executed in a manner that adhered to a judge's restrictions against deportation.
A court ruling previously issued by U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg had blocked the use of the Alien Enemies Act—a wartime-era law from 1798—effectively imposing a temporary restraining order (TRO) on deportations under that statute. The Trump administration, however, circumvented this obstacle by utilizing Title 8 immigration authority, which is a standard legal process for the deportation of foreign nationals who have received final removal orders.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the deportations in a press release and via social media. “Last night, in a successful counter-terrorism operation with our allies in El Salvador, the United States military transferred a group of 17 violent criminals from the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 organizations, including murderers and rapists,” he stated. Rubio underscored the administration's stance by reiterating President Trump's designation of these gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, a move intended to prioritize the safety of American citizens.
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele also acknowledged his country's cooperation in the joint military operation. He confirmed the dangerous nature of the individuals, labeling them as confirmed murderers and high-profile offenders, some with convictions for child rape.
Among those deported was Keivis Jesus Arrecheder Vasquez, a Venezuelan national believed to be a leader of Tren de Aragua, with pending drug trafficking charges. Fox News reported that six other known members of the same gang were included in the deportation group. The rest were members of MS-13, a gang known for its brutal criminal activities, including murder, rape, and extortion.
This deportation move comes amid legal disputes concerning the Trump administration's attempted use of the Alien Enemies Act. The ACLU, which represents plaintiffs in the case, has criticized the law for allowing deportations without sufficient judicial oversight. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Judge Boasberg’s decision, with a 2-1 majority ruling that the administration was attempting to bypass legal protections. Despite this legal pushback, the White House has indicated plans to escalate the case to the Supreme Court in an effort to obtain broader deportation powers.
The administration’s use of Title 8 in this instance underscores its determination to continue deporting individuals it deems a threat to national security, while respecting the legal boundaries set by the judiciary.
