The Trump administration deported 238 Venezuelan immigrants to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, branding them as terrorists despite the majority not having prior U.S. criminal convictions. Official data revealed that only 32 had U.S. convictions, mostly nonviolent offenses like retail theft. Six had violent crime convictions. The administration justified its actions by citing a vetting process, but the data contradicted these claims, showing most were labeled for violating immigration laws.

This controversial deportation has raised legal challenges regarding the administration’s authority to expel immigrants without judicial review. The administration’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act and branding of a prison gang as a terrorist organization facilitated the deportations. Critics, including the ACLU, condemned the lack of due process in sending individuals to a foreign prison indefinitely.

Despite the administration’s assertions of the deportees’ dangerousness, investigations found discrepancies between public statements and government data. Allegations of gang invasion were refuted by U.S. intelligence officials. The prisoners’ families, unaware of their destination, expressed distress over their loved ones’ uncertain fate.

The case of a deportee, Wilker Miguel Gutiérrez Sierra, facing serious charges in the U.S., highlighted the administration’s expedited deportation process. Many others facing minor charges, such as a man arrested for drinking a beer while riding a bike, were also sent to El Salvador, sparking concerns over fairness and legality. Immigrant advocates criticized the administration for bypassing the U.S. justice system and sending individuals to a foreign prison without resolution of their cases.