Federal Judge Orders Return of Deported Venezuelan Migrants from El Salvador: U.S. Government to Cover Expenses
A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration must allow some Venezuelan migrants deported to a prison in El Salvador to return to the U.S. at the government's expense. The case arose after President Trump used the Alien Enemies Act to send Venezuelan migrants to a prison known as the Terrorism Confinement Center. The judge criticized the government's response to his order to come up with a plan for the men to challenge their removals.
The White House criticized the ruling, calling it an unlawful decision from a "far-left judicial activist." The deported men were later returned to Venezuela in a prisoner exchange. Their attorney in the U.S. stated that some of them have left Venezuela and are interested in clearing their names. The judge's order requires U.S. officials to provide the men with boarding letters if they wish to return to the U.S. and cover their airfare.
The men in third countries and those still in Venezuela can file legal documents challenging their deportation under the 18th century wartime law and their designation as gang members. The judge emphasized the government's responsibility to remedy the situation and provide a means for the men to challenge their removal. The administration flew the Venezuelan men to the prison in March despite a court order to turn around, leading to a contempt investigation.
The attorney representing the men praised the judge for starting the process of allowing them to challenge their removal. He noted that the government was not willing to do what was right without a court order. The legal battle between the judicial and executive branches has been paused by an appeals court, with the administration denying violating the court order. The judge's ruling aims to give the deported men the opportunity to present their case and challenge their removal.