Over 200 Venezuelans accused by the White House of being gang members have been deported from the US to a notorious mega-jail in El Salvador. This action, under the Alien Enemies Act, invokes a centuries-old law allowing the US president to order the detention and deportation of citizens or natives of an “enemy” nation without following regular legal processes. The act has been criticized by rights groups, especially since it bypassed a judge’s temporary block order. Despite the controversial nature of the law’s usage, the White House contends that the judge’s order had no legal basis and that the deportations had already occurred. The act has previously been used during times of conflict, most notably during World War Two for the internments of Japanese, German, and Italian citizens.

Questioning the act’s invocation, civil liberties groups and others argue it unjustly criminalizes Venezuelan migration, drawing parallels to historical episodes of mass imprisonment and persecution. This legal maneuver by the Trump administration aims to target gang activities but raises concerns about the legal treatment of individuals based on their national origin rather than proven criminal activities.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy871w21d3vo