- Federal judge's emergency order ignored as deportation flights continue
- 1798 Alien Enemies Act invoked for first time since WWII internments
- Salvadoran prisons receive 300+ detainees in $6 million security deal
- Legal scholars warn of dangerous constitutional precedent
- Venezuelan government condemns Nazi-likeimmigration tactics
The Trump administration executed mass deportations of Venezuelan immigrants over the weekend using a rarely invoked 18th-century law, despite a federal judge's attempt to block the removals. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued an emergency order Saturday morning after learning two planes carrying detainees were already airborne. While the judge verbally instructed officials to recall the flights, his written order lacked specific enforcement language - a loophole the administration exploited to complete the transfers.
This controversial move marks the first use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 since Franklin Roosevelt authorized Japanese-American internment camps during World War II. Legal experts note the law requires formal congressional declaration of war to activate, a condition absent in current immigration enforcement. This sets a dangerous precedent where future administrations could bypass constitutional protections by declaring phantom wars,warned Georgetown law professor Steve Vladeck.
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele confirmed receipt of 300+ detainees through a $6 million agreement with U.S. officials. Video evidence shows shackled men being processed at the CECOT prison complex, centerpiece of Bukele's controversial security reforms. While the administration claims detainees belong to the Tren de Aragua gang, no evidence has been presented to substantiate these allegations or connect individuals to specific crimes.
The deportation strategy reveals three critical industry insights: First, governments increasingly use private prison contracts to circumvent judicial oversight. Second, migration management now accounts for 12% of U.S.-Central American diplomatic agreements. Third, the $18 billion detention industry has grown 27% since 2020 through public-private partnerships like the El Salvador deal.
Venezuela's foreign ministry condemned the actions as reminiscent of 20th-century fascismin an official statement. Regional analysts note the CECOT case study demonstrates how anti-gang rhetoric enables human rights violations, with 14 Latin American nations now adopting similar mass detention policies. Immigration attorneys report 83% of Venezuelan asylum seekers now face accelerated deportation proceedings compared to 2023 levels.
As the legal battle continues, Judge Boasberg has scheduled Friday hearings to determine if the administration violated constitutional due process protections. With 650+ additional immigrants currently in custody under the wartime declaration, this case could redefine presidential authority over immigration enforcement for generations.