President Donald Trump recently expressed gratitude to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele following the deportation of hundreds of suspected criminal migrants back to El Salvador. A video depicting the arrival of the deportees attracted significant attention, leading Trump to commend Bukele’s collaboration while criticizing the Democratic leadership in the U.S. for facilitating what he described as a perilous situation.
Referencing the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, Trump justified the legality of these deportations. This seldom-invoked law allows the U.S. government to detain or expel nationals from enemy nations during times of war or national emergencies.
In total, 261 individuals were deported. Of these, 137 were expelled under the Alien Enemies Act, which included 101 Venezuelan nationals and 21 members of the notorious MS-13 gang.
The deportation has elicited mixed responses, with some lauding the robust enforcement action while others raise concerns regarding its legality and implications for human rights. Trump asserted that the action prioritized national security and public safety.
The Biden administration has not publicly addressed the application of the 1798 law. Nevertheless, legal experts indicate that its invocation represents a notable change in immigration enforcement practices.
President Bukele has fostered a close relationship with U.S. leadership in recent years and has taken measures to combat gang violence in El Salvador. His willingness to accept deportees indicates ongoing collaboration on issues of migration and crime.
This prominent deportation underscores broader anxieties regarding border security and criminal infiltration, particularly in the context of the ongoing political discourse surrounding immigration policy in the United States.
