U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said on the 16th that the United States has invoked the "Alien Enemies Act" of 1798 to deport hundreds of members of the Venezuelan gang "Tren de Aragua."
Foreign media reported that Rubio said in a statement: "Hundreds of violent criminals have been expelled from our country."
The President of El Salvador, Bukele, said on social media platform X that 238 Venezuelan gang members have arrived in his country and were immediately transferred to a "terrorist detention center" for a year, with the option to renew.
Bukele said the U.S. also deported 23 members of the Salvadoran gang MS-13, including two senior members.
On the 14th, Trump signed an executive order invoking the "Alien Enemies Act" to expedite the deportation of Tren de Aragua members suspected of kidnapping, extortion, organized crime, and contract killing, stating that they pose a "threat" to the U.S.
Federal Court Judge Boasberg issued a 14-day temporary restraining order on the 15th preventing the government from invoking the "Alien Enemies Act" to deport immigrants, arguing that the Act is a wartime measure only applicable to situations of "foreign hostile actions equivalent to war," and that the actions of Tren de Aragua do not constitute the "threat" Trump referred to.
Bukele stated that the United States will "pay a very low fee" to El Salvador, but did not specify the amount.