A plane carrying American immigrants, suspected members of a Venezuelan gang, touched down in El Salvador under Trump’s command despite the judge’s ruling.
The order passed by Trump’s administration required 238 supposed criminals – American immigrants – to be transferred to what is known as the “world’s worst prison” in El Salvador.
A federal judge ruled against the order, but at the time the plane carrying the alleged gang members was already in international airspace, thus Trump’s administration claimed they didn’t break any laws.
Trump’s order has been based on an 18th century law – which was intended for wartime and targeted Venezuelan gang members – with the government claiming the country is facing an “invasion” of criminal organizations linked to kidnappings, killings, and other crimes.
The U.S. is set to pay President Nayib Bukele’s government $6 million for one year of services.
The notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), where members of the Tren de Aragua gang were deported, was built in 2023 as part of Bukele’s crackdown on organized crime.
Bukele personally announced the arrival of the transferred criminals from the U.S., posting photos of them handcuffed. He stated that the “first 238 members of the Venezuelan criminal organization” had landed, adding, “The United States will pay a very low fee for them, but a high one for us.”
“As always, we continue advancing in the fight against organized crime. But this time, we are also helping our allies, making our prison system self-sustainable, and obtaining vital intelligence to make our country even safer—all in a single action,” he wrote on X.
“May God bless El Salvador, and may God bless the United States.”
Former President Trump also weighed in on the transfer, blaming Joe Biden and his administration for allowing criminals to enter the United States.
“These are monsters sent into our Country by Crooked Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats. How dare they!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He went on to thank El Salvador and President Bukele for addressing the situation, saying, “Thank you to El Salvador, and in particular President Bukele, for your understanding of this horrible situation, which was allowed to happen to the United States because of Democrat leadership.
“We will not forget.”
While Trump’s comments sparked debate, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement defending the administration’s actions. She argued that a single federal judge from one county “cannot direct the movements of an aircraft carrier full of foreign alien terrorists who were physically expelled from U.S. soil.”
The statement further asserted that federal courts “have no jurisdiction” over the president’s foreign affairs.
Trump claimed that the gang members have ties to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
According to the Associated Press, conditions inside the prison are harsh, with inmates struggling for food and water. The facility lacks educational programs that could help prisoners reintegrate into society upon release.
Venezuela’s Minister of Justice also stated that “those held at CECOT would never return to their communities.”
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