Trump cited the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and blamed “incompetent Democrat leadership” for the situation, calling the deportees “monsters sent by Crooked Joe Biden.”
A reported 261 individuals were deported, including MS-13 gang members and Venezuelans removed under Title 8. Some had criminal records including kidnapping and child sexual abuse. A federal judge issued a halt to the deportations, but officials claimed the deportees were already in international airspace when the order was given.
Bukele confirmed their transfer to a terrorism confinement center and said their detention supports intelligence efforts and prison self-sustainability through inmate labor programs. He emphasized the action as part of El Salvador’s ongoing crackdown on organized crime.
Trump and administration officials defended the deportations despite the legal challenges. Senator Marco Rubio and others praised Bukele’s leadership and cooperation in combatting organized crime and strengthening U.S.-El Salvador relations.
