On March 31, 2023, the Trump administration deported 17 more individuals, identified as alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the notorious MS-13 gang, back to El Salvador. This operation was carried out by the U.S. military on Sunday night, as confirmed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated that the deportees included individuals with serious charges, such as murder and rape.
Since taking office in January, President Trump has been vocal about his commitment to deport millions of immigrants residing in the U.S. illegally. This initiative forms part of a broader immigration crackdown aimed at enhancing national security and addressing crime linked to foreign nationals. Earlier this month, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a law dating back to the 18th century, which has historically been employed during wartime, to specifically target alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has raised concerns regarding Trump's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, asserting that it undermines the due process rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution to individuals contesting their deportation. Family members of some deported individuals have publicly denied any affiliations with gangs, further complicating the narrative surrounding these deportations.
Recently, a U.S. federal appeals court upheld a lower court's decision to block the rapid deportation of alleged gang members under the Alien Enemies Act. In response, the Trump administration has announced its intention to continue utilizing other legal avenues for deportations. However, Secretary Rubio did not specify which legal authorities were employed in the latest deportation operation.
In a statement on social media platform X, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele confirmed that the deportees included confirmed murderers and high-profile offenders, among them six individuals convicted of child rape. A list of 16 deportees, which was published by a Fox News reporter and later verified by the White House, included 12 individuals with criminal convictions, one self-admitted gang member, and three facing pending charges.
The ongoing actions of the Trump administration regarding the deportation of alleged gang members highlight the administration's strict stance on immigration and crime linked to foreign nationals. As legal battles unfold, the implications for immigration policy and the treatment of those accused of gang affiliations continue to be a topic of significant public discourse.
Reporting by Ted Hesson and Susan Heavey, with editing by Nick Zieminski and Andrea Ricci. Ted Hesson, based in Washington, D.C., focuses on immigration policy and politics and has previously contributed to various notable publications.
