Donald Trump’s administration has prioritized mass deportations, leading to controversial deportations to El Salvador’s CECOT supermax prison and plans to repurpose Guantanamo Bay for holding migrants. The US Supreme Court intervened to halt further deportations of Venezuelans amid a rush of deportations under Trump’s policies.

The intensified focus on deportations includes the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, sparking legal disputes over individuals like Kilmar Abrego Garcia mistakenly deported to his home country. The Trump administration has invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport immigrants identified as criminals, a rarely used law historically.

Challenges to the deportation drive include lawsuits against Costa Rica and Panama for violating the rights of migrant children detained after deportation. Some migrants from Asian countries have faced prolonged limbo in Central American nations, prompting criticism and legal action.

While unauthorized border crossings decreased, ICE deportations doubled, and detention numbers surged during Trump’s tenure. However, data suggests that initial deportation rates under Trump were slightly lower than those under Biden at the same period the previous year.

The deportation policies have sparked legal battles, human rights concerns, and international agreements with countries like El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama to accept deportees. Despite Trump’s push for deportations, the landscape remains complex, with ongoing legal challenges and humanitarian issues surrounding migrant deportations.