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Trump Administration Defies Court Order Halting Deportation Flights to El Salvador

HeadlineMar 17, 2025

President Trump has invoked an 18th-century law to order the deportation of Venezuelan nationals from the United States. On Saturday, the Trump administration flew more than 260 immigrants to El Salvador, including over 130 people accused, but not convicted, of having ties to the gang Tren de Aragua, which Trump has labeled a terrorist organization. The flights came despite a temporary restraining order from U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who ordered any deportation flights that were currently in the air to turn around. The Washington Post reports three flights bound for El Salvador arrived after the judge’s order. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, a Trump ally, shared video on social media showing deportees arriving at a notorious supermax prison where guards have been accused of gross human rights abuses. Bukele tweeted, “Oopsie… Too late,” adding the face with tears of joy emoji. The comment was then retweeted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House communications director Steven Cheung. Trump’s order is based on the rarely invoked Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which was last used to justify the arrest and internment of 30,000 Japanese, German and Italian nationals during World War II. We’ll have more on this case later in the broadcast with the ACLU’s Lee Gelernt, who says President Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act is “flat out lawless.”

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