US Expels Venezuelans to El Salvador Amid Controversial Executive Order
In a significant move, the United States expelled over 200 Venezuelans on Sunday, claiming their ties to the notorious Tren de Aragua criminal organization. These individuals were flown to El Salvador, where they were promptly taken into custody alongside 23 alleged members of another gang, MS13. The Salvadoran security forces incarcerated the newcomers at the maximum-security CECOT prison, known to house criminals in severe conditions.
The expulsions took place despite a last-minute federal court ruling that temporarily blocked an executive order issued by President Donald Trump just a day before the flights. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that, despite the judge's intervention, the plane had already departed, leaving doubts about the legal grounds of the expulsions.
The transfer of these suspected criminals is tied to an agreement forged between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele. Bukele publicly announced the arrival of the flights via social media, humorously commenting on the judge's ruling with the phrase, "Oops, too late." The deal, which can be renewed after its initial one-year term, allows for the expulsion of individuals deemed a threat to national security, without going through the usual immigration protocols.
This executive order references the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 law utilized sparingly in U.S. history—only three notable instances during war times. On Saturday, federal Judge James Boasberg issued a temporary suspension of the order, casting a shadow over its future legitimacy and usage.
The CECOT prison where these Venezuelans are being detained is a new facility located in Tecoluca, roughly 70 kilometers from San Salvador. Spanning 230,000 square meters and equipped with advanced monitoring technology, CECOT is designed to hold up to 40,000 prisoners. Yet, reports from humanitarian organizations have raised alarming concerns regarding human rights abuses within its walls.
Since the initiation of a state of emergency in 2022, President Bukele has spearheaded a controversial campaign against organized crime in El Salvador. Approximately 75,000 individuals have reportedly been incarcerated due to enhanced security measures that allow arrests based on scant evidence, including mere tattoos or anonymous tips. Furthermore, the government has been noted to surveil citizens' private communications, raising substantial ethical and privacy concerns.
Bukele's hardline approach has resulted in a dramatic reduction in crime rates, transforming a nation once dubbed the most dangerous in Latin America into a place perceived as relatively safe. However, this comes at the cost of civil liberties and has drawn criticism from human rights advocates both locally and internationally. As the situation develops, the intersection of U.S. immigration policy and El Salvador's internal security measures will likely remain a contentious topic.
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