Department of justice officials, citing privilege, did not disclose details on the legal advice given to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about the decision to continue the deportation of more than 100 venezuelans to El Salvador in March.
The declarations filed in court Friday are a response to a contempt inquiry initiated by U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg, who is determining whether Noem or anyone else should be referred for potential contempt prosecution.
The court filings Friday were submitted after DOJ lawyers said in a filing last week that Noem directed the deportation flights to continue despite Boasberg’s order to return the planes to the U.S. as he heard a legal challenge to the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) to deport the Venezuelans, whom the Trump administration accused of being gang members.
el Salvador Receives Hundreds of Alleged Gang Members Deported From the U.S.
El Salvador’s government recently received 238 individuals alleged to be members of notorious criminal organizations, including Venezuela’s “Tren De Aragua” and the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). The reception took place at the Center for Confinement of Terrorists (CECOT) in Tecoluca, a high-security prison built to house the country’s most dangerous criminals.
According to government reports,the majority of those deported – 215 – are suspected members of Tren De Aragua,a Venezuelan criminal group that has been expanding its operations throughout Latin America. Only 23 of the deportees are believed to be affiliated with MS-13.
This mass deportation is a direct result of increased collaboration between the U.S. and el Salvador under the Biden administration, following a similar initiative during the Trump administration. The goal is to dismantle transnational criminal networks and address the escalating violence plaguing the region.
The salvadoran government,led by President Nayib Bukele,has implemented a state of exception since March 2022,resulting in the arrest of over 77,000 suspected gang members. Bukele’s administration has been criticized by human rights organizations for alleged abuses and due process violations during these mass arrests,but maintains that these measures are necessary to restore order and security.
The arrival of these deportees at CECOT marks a significant step in El Salvador’s ongoing efforts to combat gang violence and solidify its stance against organized crime. The government plans to prosecute these individuals to the full extent of the law, further demonstrating its commitment to eradicating criminal influence within its borders.