Hundreds of alleged members of the Venezuelan crime syndicate Tren de Aragua have been flown to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, despite a US judge’s order to halt their deportation from the United States.

Judge James E. Boasberg of the US District Court issued a temporary restraining order on Saturday to stop the Trump administration from removing the individuals. However, it emerged that two planes carrying migrants had already taken off, one bound for El Salvador and another for Honduras. Judge Boasberg’s verbal instruction to return the planes was not included in his written decision.

The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, dismissed the judge’s order as having “no lawful basis” since it was issued after the alleged gang members had been removed from US territory. The Department of Justice, in its court filing on Sunday, further stated that if the judge’s ruling is not overturned, the Trump administration would not use the blocked proclamation for further deportations.

During a conversation with journalists aboard Air Force One on Sunday, President , when asked about the alleged violation of the court order, sidestepped the question and simply stated that the individuals “were bad people.”

The controversial deportation is part of an agreement between the US and Salvadorian governments, with El Salvador agreeing to house about 300 immigrants in their prisons for a year at a cost of $6 million. The immigrants were deported shortly after President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which has been rarely used in US history, only during the War of 1812 and the World Wars.

The Trump administration has not publicly identified the immigrants as confirmed members of Tren de Aragua or provided evidence that they committed crimes on US soil. Additionally, two high-ranking members of the Salvadoran gang MS-13, who had been arrested in the US, were also sent back to El Salvador as part of the operation.

President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, commented on the issue by posting on X, stating “Oopsie… Too late,” in response to Judge Boasberg’s decision.

The Tren de Aragua gang, originally stemming from a notorious prison in Venezuela’s Aragua state, fled the country amidst the economic collapse, with the majority searching for better opportunities. The US has not confirmed that the deported individuals were indeed gang members or that they have criminal records in the States.

Footage from the Salvadorian authorities showed the men arriving at the notorious CECOT facility, escorted by police and military, with their heads shaved and clad in the traditional prison uniforms.

Judge Boasberg has scheduled a further hearing to consider additional arguments in this case. The temporary restraining order will last up to 14 days, during which time the immigrants are to remain in federal custody.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/us-trump-administration-deports-hundreds-of-venezuelans-despite-court-order-13330755