Trump administration says it did not defy court order by deporting 238 people to El Salvador [Video]

In this photo provided by El Salvador’s presidential press office, a prison guard transfers deportees from the U.S., alleged to be Venezuelan gang members, to the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (El Salvador presidential press office via AP)

By David Catanese Miami Herald

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration says it did not defy a weekend court order to halt the use of wartime powers to fast-track deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador.

“The administration did not ‘refuse to comply’ with a court order,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement. “The order, which had no lawful basis, was issued after terrorist (Tren de Aragua) aliens had already been removed from U.S. territory.”

More from The Star & partners

Please log in …