Politics

JUST IN: Trump Legally Defies Judge’s Deportation Rulings With Sneaky Maneuver

Published

3 days ago

March 31, 2025

The Trump administration has sidestepped a federal judge’s deportation ban — without technically breaking the law.

Over the weekend, the United States quietly deported 17 violent gang members linked to MS-13 and Tren de Aragua to El Salvador, despite a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking similar removals under the Alien Enemies Act.

The deportations didn’t rely on the Alien Enemies Act at all. Instead, senior White House officials confirmed they used Title 8 immigration authority — a standard legal tool for removing foreign nationals with final orders of removal. The legal sleight-of-hand effectively nullified the judge’s restrictions and allowed the operation to proceed.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed the operation on X (formerly Twitter), saying Monday morning, “In order to keep the American people safe, @POTUS designated the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.”

“These criminals will no longer terrorize our communities and citizens.” He also praised El Salvador’s government for their “unparalleled partnership in making our countries safe.”

Last night, in a successful counter-terrorism operation with our allies in El Salvador, the United States military transferred a group of 17 violent criminals from the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 organizations, including murderers and rapists.

In order to keep the American people…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 31, 2025

The deportations were carried out following collaboration with El Salvador’s government and President Nayib Bukele, a staunch ally of President Trump in fighting international gang crime.

“Last night, in a joint military operation with our allies from the United States, we transferred 17 extremely dangerous criminals linked to Tren de Aragua and MS-13,” said President Bukele.

“All individuals are confirmed murderers and high-profile offenders, including six child rapists. This operation is another step in the fight against terrorism and organized crime.”

WATCH:

Last night, in a joint military operation with our allies from the United States, we transferred 17 extremely dangerous criminals linked to Tren de Aragua and MS-13.

All individuals are confirmed murderers and high-profile offenders, including six child rapists.

This operation… pic.twitter.com/Tk1Xq7vnuB

— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) March 31, 2025

Among those removed was Keivis Jesus Arrecheder Vasquez, a Venezuelan national and alleged Tren de Aragua ringleader who reportedly has pending charges related to drug trafficking. According to Fox News, six other known members of Tren de Aragua were also included in the deportation group.

The rest were tied to MS-13, a violent transnational gang notorious for murder, rape, and extortion. All 17 individuals were either Venezuelan or Salvadoran nationals, with the majority already convicted of serious crimes.

U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg had recently extended a TRO blocking the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act — a 1798 wartime-era law — to deport suspected gang members, citing a lack of procedural safeguards. The ACLU, which represents the plaintiffs in the case, has claimed the law allows deportation without adequate judicial review.

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals backed Boasberg’s decision earlier this month, with a 2-1 majority accusing the administration of trying to sidestep core legal protections. The Trump administration, undeterred, is now preparing to escalate the case to the Supreme Court, where it hopes to secure a favorable ruling.

Despite the ongoing legal battle, the administration maintains that its actions this weekend were fully within the law. By switching to Title 8 — the standard mechanism for deporting individuals with final orders — officials argue that they’ve complied with court orders while still protecting national security.

Supporters call it a masterstroke.