Overview

• The Trump administration is assessing whether it can legally deport U.S. citizens convicted of violent crimes to El Salvador's high-security CECOT prison.
• Legal scholars widely agree that such deportations lack constitutional and statutory authority, citing violations of due process and the 14th Amendment.
• The U.S. has committed $6 million to fund the agreement with El Salvador, despite concerns over the prison's harsh conditions and potential human rights violations.
• Federal courts and the Supreme Court have issued rulings blocking earlier deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, with further lawsuits anticipated if the policy advances.
• Critics warn that deporting citizens abroad could limit judicial recourse, as courts have reduced power to mandate the return of individuals once they are removed from U.S. soil.