The US has deported 10 individuals alleged to be gang members to El Salvador, as confirmed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio just ahead of a scheduled visit by El Salvador’s president to the White House. These individuals are said to be associated with the MS-13 and Tren de Aragua Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The partnership between President Donald Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele is praised by Rubio as a model of security and prosperity in the region.

President Trump has expressed anticipation for his meeting with President Bukele, commending the deportation of “enemy aliens” from the US and emphasizing the joint efforts to combat terrorist organizations. While US officials have publicly accused detained immigrants of gang affiliations without substantial legal backing, the Trump administration has deported numerous individuals to a prison in El Salvador under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act.

Criticism has arisen regarding the lack of opportunity for migrants to challenge their deportation assertions, particularly in cases where they deny gang membership. Legal challenges have been mounted against these deportations, with the US Supreme Court ruling that detainees must be given adequate notice to contest their removal. However, the process for individuals already deported to El Salvador to seek judicial review remains uncertain.

Recent scrutiny intensified following the erroneous deportation of a Maryland man to El Salvador, a case in which Trump administration lawyers have confirmed the individual’s continued detention in a notorious prison. Despite this confirmation, specific plans for the man’s return to the US have not been disclosed.