Background on Deportation Flights

Recent deportation flights transporting Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador have sparked legal debate, leading to a response from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). This came after U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued an emergency order on Saturday aimed at halting the flights for 14 days.

Legal Controversy Surrounding the Departures

The emergency ruling intends to assess the legality of using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act for immediate deportation under claims that certain deportees are connected to the gang Tren de Aragua, which allegedly poses a threat to national security. Judge Boasberg has asked for further clarifications from the government regarding the timing and details of flights conducted on March 15, 2025.

Government’s Position

The DOJ asserted that the deportation flights did not breach the court’s order, as the relevant flights departed U.S. airspace before the order was implemented. A filing co-signed by Attorney General Pamela Bondi indicated the government’s stance that providing further information on these flights was unnecessary and unwarranted.

“The Court… ordered the Government to address the form in which it can provide further details about flights that left the United States before 7:25 PM,” the filing stated.

Concerns Raised by Advocacy Groups

Advocacy organizations like Democracy Forward and ACLU argued that the deportations risked causing severe and irreversible harm to the affected individuals. Judge Boasberg sided with these concerns, leading to his order to immediately halt any ongoing deportations and redirect planes in transit carrying the deportees back to the U.S.

Despite the urgency of the order, reports indicate that two planes with over 200 migrants had already been deported to El Salvador before the ruling could take effect.

Clarification from Immigration Authorities

In a declaration, Robert Cerna, Acting Field Office Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations at ICE, clarified the timeline surrounding the flights. He noted that the proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act was effective only after its posting on the White House website that afternoon.

“Three planes carrying aliens departed the United States for El Salvador International Airport (SAL)… Two of those planes departed U.S. territory and airspace before 7:25 PM EDT,” stated Cerna.

Current Status and Next Steps

The situation remains fluid, with ice officials monitoring approximately 54 members of Tren de Aragua currently in detention and others on active removal dockets. As the legal proceedings unfold, further developments on the deportation initiatives are anticipated.