Trump’s Bold Deportation Move Faces Legal Pushback Amid Controversy

The Trump administration announced Sunday that hundreds of individuals were deported after President Donald Trump invoked a rarely used wartime authority to accelerate the removal of migrants allegedly tied to the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua.

Deportation Under Wartime Authority

The mass deportation followed Trump’s decision to activate the Alien Enemies Act, a law historically used only three times before. However, the move hit a legal snag Saturday evening when a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration’s use of the act. The judge also ordered any planes already in the air carrying deportees to return to the U.S.

US District Judge James Boasberg ruled that the temporary restraining order would remain in effect for 14 days “or until further order of the court.” Despite the ruling, some planes carrying deportees were reportedly already in the air.

“Given the plaintiffs’ information, unrebutted by the government, that flights are actively departing and planning to depart, I cannot wait any longer,” Boasberg said. “Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned to the United States.”

Mass Arrests and Deportations

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that nearly 300 members of Tren de Aragua were arrested and deported over the weekend. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the swift action, saying “hundreds of violent criminals were sent out of our country” after Trump’s Saturday directive.

Rubio also thanked El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele for agreeing to imprison the deportees. Bukele reportedly requested that two MS-13 gang leaders and 21 other Salvadorans in U.S. custody be returned to face justice in El Salvador.

The U.S. will pay $6 million to El Salvador to house the deportees, contributing to the country’s penitentiary costs, which run about $200 million annually. Bukele stated the arrangement would help El Salvador’s law enforcement gather intelligence and track MS-13 activity.

Bukele’s Response: "Oopsie... Too Late"

Bukele posted on X (formerly Twitter) confirming that the Tren de Aragua members had arrived in El Salvador and were transferred to CECOT — the Terrorism Confinement Center — for at least one year. His post included a video showing shackled men being led off buses and having their heads shaved.

When news of the judge’s order broke, Bukele shared a screenshot of the ruling, captioned: “Oopsie… too late.” Rubio reposted the comment.

Legal Backlash and Political Reactions

Republican Senator Mike Rounds defended the administration’s actions, saying on CNN’s State of the Union that he expects the executive branch to follow the law. “I think most Americans will say, ‘I don’t care how old the law is — if it keeps my family safe, we’re going to do it.’”

However, Judge Boasberg had initially blocked the deportation of five individuals challenging Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act. After a last-minute hearing, the judge expanded the block to cover all noncitizens in U.S. custody subject to the proclamation.

Legal expert Carl Tobias noted that the Trump administration may have violated Boasberg’s order, depending on when the flights departed. “If the order was clear and they proceeded anyway, it would be a violation,” Tobias said. If proven, the administration could face contempt charges.

Concerns Over Human Rights in El Salvador

CECOT, El Salvador’s massive prison with a capacity for 40,000 inmates, has become a symbol of the country’s tough crackdown on crime. However, human rights groups have criticized the prison’s harsh conditions.

CNN visited the facility last year, finding overcrowded cells with up to 80 inmates each, lacking mattresses, sheets, and basic privacy. Inmates are locked up 23.5 hours a day with a half-hour break for group exercise or Bible readings.

Bukele’s crackdown has resulted in the arrest of over 80,000 people — more than 1% of El Salvador’s population. While Bukele has admitted that innocent people were mistakenly arrested, he argues that such collateral damage is necessary to transform El Salvador from the “murder capital of the world” into one of the safest nations.

Political Fallout and Immigration Debate

Democrats have criticized Trump’s aggressive deportation strategy. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, “We support the rule of law, but deporting legal residents and breaking up immigrant families is unacceptable.” Jeffries called for comprehensive immigration reform to address the root issues.

Despite the legal and political storm, Trump’s administration remains defiant, signaling that more deportations could follow — setting the stage for a fierce legal and political battle.