A landmark judicial ruling has compelled the Trump administration to devise a repatriation strategy for hundreds of Venezuelan nationals who were controversially deported to El Salvador’s maximum-security prison system. The decision, handed down by US District Judge James Boasberg this week, mandates that the government must enable these individuals to challenge their deportations through proper legal channels in American courts.
The case centers on approximately 252 Venezuelans who were removed from the United States in March under the rarely invoked Alien Enemy Act of 1798. This wartime legislation was employed by President Trump to bypass standard immigration proceedings and hearing requirements for those allegedly identified as members of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization.
Speaking on behalf of the former detainees, Ysqueibel Peñaloza emphasized their demand for due process: “The judicial ruling now establishes that we must be granted the opportunity for fair proceedings in accordance with US law. We urgently call upon both the United States and Salvadoran governments to fully comply with this court order.”
The deportees have requested unspecified national and international assistance for their legal defense. Many family members and attorneys have consistently disputed the gang affiliation allegations, noting that relatives were often left uninformed about the detainees’ whereabouts and legal status.
This controversial deportation program has drawn substantial criticism from human rights organizations and triggered ongoing legal battles with the Trump administration. Judge Boasberg’s ruling gives the government a two-week deadline to present a comprehensive plan for facilitating the returnees’ access to US judicial review processes.