It started with a dark flight and a silent defiance of the law.
At night, a dead government plane bearing 238 individuals – Americans accused of gangs – got rid of the US jurisdiction and headed directly to one of the most feared prisons on Earth. This controversial operation ordered by former President Donald Trump took place despite the decision of the federal judge to stop her.
This was followed by a dramatic international maneuver who shaken legal experts, human rights advocates and global leaders. Why was this mission pushed so urgent? And what does it mean for justice, diplomacy and the lives of the participants?
Aircraft of the alleged gang members will land in Salvador despite the judge’s block
The aircraft bearing an American immigrant, which is assumed to be members of the Venezuelan gang, landed in Salvador on direct orders by former President Donald Trump – although the federal judge decided to transfer.
Trump’s administration ordered a deportation of 238 individuals – US immigrants suspected of criminal ties – for a notorious hard hard center for terrorism (CECOT), often referred to as the “worst prison in the world”.
Although the federal judge tried to block the deportation, the aircraft was in international airspace at that time, which allowed Trump officials to claim that no laws were violated.
The controversial deportation order was justified by Trump’s administration under the unclear law of the 18th century originally created for war situations. Officials claimed that the law allowed exclusion for what they described as an “invasion” of criminal organizations associated with kidnapping, murder and other violent crimes – many supposedly associated with Venezuel’s gang Tren de Aragua.
The US government allegedly agreed to pay Salvador $ 6 million for one year of detention services.
Cecot, mega-imprisonment receiving these prisoners, was built in 2023 under the President Nayib Bukele, who launched a full-scale intervention on organized crime. Bukele announced the arrival of prisoners with paintings of the bonds of immigrants and said that the transfer meant the beginning of the new chapter in the International Gang War.
“These first 238 members of the Venezuelan criminal organization arrived,” said Bukele on X (formerly Twitter). “The United States pays us a low fee, but these costs are high for us.”
He added: “As always, we are pushing forward in the fight against organized crime. This time we also support our allies, which we keep our prison system self-sufficient and gain valuable intelligence to improve national security-in one turn.
Former President Trump also commented on the event through Truth Social to point his fingers to President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party.
“These monsters were allowed to our country by the crooked Joe Biden and radical left democrats,” Trump said. “Thank you El Salvador, and especially the President Bukele, for understanding the seriousness of this situation. We will not forget.”
Critics condemned Trump’s actions and claimed to resist the legal boundaries. However, the printing of the White House, Karoline Leavtt, prevented this step and said that the only federal judge “cannot control the movements of aircraft carrying foreign terrorists already removed from American land”. She added that the federal courts “do not have jurisdiction on presidential decisions in foreign affairs”.
Trump combined deported individuals with the Venezuelan regime of President Nicolás Madura, referring to concerns about national security.
According to the Associated Press, Cecot conditions are reportedly serious. Prisoners are fighting for basic needs such as food and water, and there are no rehabilitation or educational programs to help re -integrate after release.
Venezuelan Minister of Justice said that prisoners who were in Cecot were likely to never return to their communities.
Conclusion
The transfer of 238 suspects of gangs from the US to Salvador’s prison Cecot under the Directive of former President Trump lit an intensive legal, political and human rights. While Trump’s administration frames step as a bold attitude against transnational crime, critics raise concerns about the overlap, the use of outdated war laws and the harsh conditions waiting for prisoners.
As the United States pays millions for outsourcing imprisonment to one of the world’s most famous prisons, this controversial operation reflects deep divisions on immigration, national security and justice – at home and abroad.
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