The order passed by Trump’s administration required 238 supposed criminals – American immigrants – to be transferred to what is known as the “world’s worst prison” in El Salvador.
A federal judge ruled against the order, but at the time the plane carrying the alleged gang members was already in international airspace, thus Trump’s administration claimed they didn’t break any laws.
Trump’s order has been based on an 18th century law – which was intended for wartime and targeted Venezuelan gang members – with the government claiming the country is facing an “invasion” of criminal organizations linked to kidnappings, killings, and other crimes.
US is expected to pay the government of President Nayib Bukele $6 million for one year of services.
The infamous prison where the members of the Tren de Aragua gang were deported – the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT – was built in 2023 when president Bukele announced the war against organized crime.
Bukele himself announced the arrival of the American immigrants transferred to El Salvador from America. He posted photos of them handcuffed, writing that the “first 238 members of the Venezuelan criminal organisation” had landed and that “the United States will pay a very low fee for them, but a high one for us.”
“As always, we continue advancing in the fight against organized crime. But this time, we are also helping our allies, making our prison system self-sustainable, and obtaining vital intelligence to make our country an even safer place. All in a single action,” he wrote on X.
“May God bless El Salvador, and may God bless the United States.”
President Trump also posted about the transfer, blaming Joe Biden and his administration for infiltrating the criminals to the United States.
“These are monsters sent into our Country by Crooked Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats. How dare they!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Thank you to El Salvador, and in particular President Bukele, for your understanding of this horrible situation, which was allowed to happen to the United States because of Democrat leadership.
“We will not forget.”
And while many judge Trump for this action, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, released a statement in which she claimed a single federal judge from a single county, and his ruling, “cannot direct the movements of an aircraft carrier full of foreign alien terrorists who were physically expelled from US soil.”
The statement added that federal courts “have no jurisdiction” over the president’s foreign affairs.
Trump said he believes the gang members are tied to the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
According to AP, the conditions in the prison are inhumane, with inmates forced to fight over food and water. It doesn’t offer any educational programmes that would help those serving to adapt to outside life ones released.
Also, according to Venezuela’s minister of justice, “those held at CECOT would never return to their communities.”
Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.
