US Deports Over 200 Venezuelan Gang Members Despite Federal Judge’s 14- Day Halt Order; Here’s Why News24 –

More than 200 alleged Venezuelan gang members have been deported by the United States on Sunday. They were transported to El Salvador from Tren de Aragua after President Donald Trump invoked the 18th-century Aliens Enemies Act to expedite their deportation. This came just before a federal judge issued a 14-day halt on the Trump administration’s ability to use the act, ordering any planes in the air carrying the deportees to return back to the US.

Deportation Continues Despite Court’s Order, Why?

The judge said the temporary restraining order would remain in effect for 14 days “or until further order of the court.” One person familiar with the matter said the planes were already in the air at the time of the judge’s ruling.

More than 200 alleged members of a Venezuelan gang have been deported by the US and sent to El Salvador where they were taken to a high-security prison, reports Reuters, quoting Salvadoran President

— ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2025

What Did The Judge Say?

“Particularly given the plaintiffs’ information, unrebutted by the government, that flights are actively departing and planning to depart, I do not believe that I’m able to wait any longer,” said US District Judge James Boasberg during the hearing. “Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned to the United States.”

‘Violent Criminals Sent out’ Says Marco Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that “hundreds of violent criminals were sent out of our country” after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act on Saturday.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later said that the Department of Homeland Security had arrested nearly 300 members of Tren de Aragua over the weekend.

Meanwhile, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele offered to imprison the alleged gang members in exchange for the return of two leaders of the MS-13 gang, as well as 21 other Salvadorans to “face justice in their homeland.”

The US will also pay USD 6 million to El Salvador to house the deportees. The El Salvador President said the money will help sustain the penitentiary system, which currently costs $200 million annually. Bukele also said the action will help law enforcement gather intelligence and apprehend MS-13 members.

Notably, The White House has designated the Venezuelan gang as a foreign terrorist organization and said in a presidential proclamation that many of them have “unlawfully infiltrated the United States and are conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States.”