Overview

• The Trump administration deported 17 alleged members of Tren de Aragua and MS-13 to El Salvador on March 30, citing Title 8 immigration law rather than the Alien Enemies Act.
• El Salvador's CECOT prison, where the deportees were sent, has been criticized for overcrowding, torture, and lack of due process, raising international human rights concerns.
• Federal courts have blocked the use of the Alien Enemies Act for deportations, citing due process violations, but the administration has appealed to the Supreme Court to reinstate its use.
• Critics argue that the administration's reliance on tattoos and other questionable evidence to classify individuals as gang members risks wrongful deportations.
• Family members and advocates claim some deportees lack gang affiliations, and legal experts warn the deportations could violate international human rights obligations.