U.S. Proceeds with Deportations of Venezuelan Nationals to El-Salvador Despite Court Ruling

On March 15, 2025, the U.S. government proceeded with the deportation of several Venezuelan nationals, despite a temporary injunction issued by a U.S. federal court that had sought to block such actions. The individuals, reportedly with alleged ties to criminal gangs, were sent to El Salvador.

The decision came in direct defiance of a court ruling issued by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who had ordered a two-week pause on deportations. Judge Boasberg had also called on the U.S. Department of Justice to explain why the deportations continued in violation of the court’s directive. The administration contended that the deportations, which involved the removal of Venezuelan nationals, did not violate the court’s directive. This justification was based on the invocation of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a rarely used wartime legal provision.

The legal justification raises significant concerns about the integrity of the rule of law and the potential for abuse of power. Violating court orders could set a dangerous precedent, challenging the separation of powers and judicial oversight. Such actions may pave the way for authoritarian practices and undermining democratic values that the United States has long championed.