Donald Trump has deported more than 230 members of the Araguer criminal gang to El Salvador, despite a judicial block. They were transferred to a maximum security prison.
In an unprecedented movement, More than 200 alleged members of the Train de Aragua of the Venezuelan criminal band were expelled from the United States and sent to El Salvador, where they were transferred A maximum security prisonAs confirmed by the president of Salvadoran Nayib Bukele this Sunday 16 March.
United States President Donald Trump invoked on Friday The law of foreign enemies of 1798 To quickly expel the alleged members of this criminal organization, linked to kidnappings, extortion, organized crime and contract murders.
However, a day later, A federal judge in Washington DC blocked the application of this law for 14 daysarguing that the statute refers to “hostile acts” perpetrated by another country that are “equivalent to war”.
Bukele has announced through the social network X 238 alleged members of the Venezuelana band They had arrived in their country and were transferred Terrorism Confination Center (Cecot)A megacárcel with a capacity of 40,000 prisoners, where they will remain for a period of a year that could be renewed.
A video shared on the social networks of Bokele shows the prisoners with Hands and feet chained be escorted by officers armed by the plane. Some are placed in armored vehicles, while others, curve while the officers push their heads down, are forced to get on buses.
Chronology and reactions
Deportation has occurred Hours after an American judge ordered the Trump administration not to do it. Judge James Boasberg ordered to stop the deportations covered by the proclamation of Trump, but at that point the planes had already taken off. Bokele replied mocking on social networks: “UPS … too late”.
The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the arrival of the alleged members of Bandas in El Salvador and thanked Bokele, qualifying it as “The strongest security leader in our region”.
This operation is part of the Trump’s long crusade against illegal immigration In the United States in January, Trump signed an executive order that declared Train de Aragua and MS-13 as Foreign terrorist organizations.
During your election campaign, Trump promised to carry out the largest expulsion operation in the history of the United States. However, a recent report suggests that the customs agents of immigration and control (ICE) deported less immigrants in February 2025 compared to the same month of the previous year during the Joe Biden administration: 11,000 in February 2025, compared to 12,000 in February 2024.
Bilateral agreement between El Salvador and the United States for 6 million dollars
The agreement between the United States and El Salvador It is a sign of strengthening diplomatic ties. The United States would have agreed to pay El Salvador 6 million dollars TO imprison 300 alleged members of the Aragua train for one yearsecond ap.
“The United States will pay a very low rate for them, but high for us,” added Bokele, suggesting that This agreement would also help to finance the Cecotic prison complex.
Rubio described the pact as a “secure third country” treatment to deport Citizens who violated American immigration laws. This would mean that the United States government could DEPORT Migrants From other countries, which do not have the Salvadoregna nationality, to El Salvador.
“He also offered himself to do the same with dangerous criminals who are currently in custody and Fulfill his sentence in the United StatesEven if they are US citizens or legal residents, “said Rubio.
The government of the Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro rejected the use of the “anachronistic” law of the United States to expel the alleged members of the band, supporting him violates the rights of migrants.
