Amid rising tensions over deportation practices, the White House defended its actions after a mass deportation, insisting that it complied with legal processes despite a federal judge's order.
**White House Responds to Allegations of Court Order Violation in Weekend Deportations**
**White House Responds to Allegations of Court Order Violation in Weekend Deportations**
U.S. officials reject accusations of bypassing a judge's temporary halt on the expulsion of alleged gang members to El Salvador.
The White House has vehemently denied accusations from human rights organizations that it violated due process during a recent mass deportation of alleged gang members to El Salvador. This operation, which took place over the weekend, saw the removal of 238 suspected Venezuelan gang members and 23 individuals tied to the notorious MS-13 gang, raising significant legal and ethical questions.
Rights advocates condemned the U.S. government for proceeding with the deportations, arguing that they contravened a temporary court order issued by Judge James Boasberg, who had demanded a 14-day pause on the expulsions. Reports indicate that the deportees were removed under a rarely used Alien Enemies Act, originally established in 1798, which permits the expulsion of non-citizens during wartime conditions.
The White House and the Department of Justice assert that the judge's ruling was issued after the deportations had already occurred, claiming the order lacked a lawful foundation. "The administration did not 'refuse to comply' with a court order," insisted White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Additionally, a senior administration official revealed that 137 of the deportees were processed under this act, fueling further controversy.
The lack of clarity regarding the individuals' alleged criminal histories has drawn sharp criticism. Families of those deported have testified that their loved ones lack any gang affiliations. As Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele welcomed the deportees and mocked the court's intervention on social media, rights groups, including the ACLU, voiced outrage, indicating that such actions could create a precedent for violating the rights of immigrants based on unfounded claims.
Critics are particularly alarmed by the invocation of tools reserved for wartime, with ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt commenting, "A gang is not invading." The recent mass deportations are part of a broader campaign by Trump to crack down on illegal immigration and strengthen ties with El Salvador, as both nations grapple with the instability affecting their borders. Amidst the escalating tensions, even Venezuela has criticized the Trump administration for unjustly categorizing its migrants as criminals.
Rights advocates condemned the U.S. government for proceeding with the deportations, arguing that they contravened a temporary court order issued by Judge James Boasberg, who had demanded a 14-day pause on the expulsions. Reports indicate that the deportees were removed under a rarely used Alien Enemies Act, originally established in 1798, which permits the expulsion of non-citizens during wartime conditions.
The White House and the Department of Justice assert that the judge's ruling was issued after the deportations had already occurred, claiming the order lacked a lawful foundation. "The administration did not 'refuse to comply' with a court order," insisted White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Additionally, a senior administration official revealed that 137 of the deportees were processed under this act, fueling further controversy.
The lack of clarity regarding the individuals' alleged criminal histories has drawn sharp criticism. Families of those deported have testified that their loved ones lack any gang affiliations. As Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele welcomed the deportees and mocked the court's intervention on social media, rights groups, including the ACLU, voiced outrage, indicating that such actions could create a precedent for violating the rights of immigrants based on unfounded claims.
Critics are particularly alarmed by the invocation of tools reserved for wartime, with ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt commenting, "A gang is not invading." The recent mass deportations are part of a broader campaign by Trump to crack down on illegal immigration and strengthen ties with El Salvador, as both nations grapple with the instability affecting their borders. Amidst the escalating tensions, even Venezuela has criticized the Trump administration for unjustly categorizing its migrants as criminals.
