United States of America - March 2025

The Trump administration has turned to controversial legal grounds for expediting deportations, undercutting due process for hundreds of undocumented migrants. On 15 March, Trump signed a proclamation designating the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization, invoking the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to summarily apprehend, detain and deport Venezuelans 14 years or older. That day, three planes carrying over 200 Venezuelans landed in El Salvador; the migrants have since been detained in a mega-prison, despite a judge’s order to stop and return the planes. The U.S. Supreme Court allowed Trump to invoke the Alien Enemies Act, but ruled that migrants must still be given notice and time to challenge their deportation.

Also on a 15 March flight was Kilmar Abrego García, a Salvadoran man with a court protection from removal to El Salvador. Officials concede he was deported in error. In April the Supreme Court upheld a judge’s order to ‘facilitate’ Abrego’s return , but officials claim his return is not possible as he is now outside U.S. jurisdiction.

 Sources: The White House, Politico, CNN, AP, SCOTUS