Trump deports over 200 alleged gang members to mega-prison

The US has deported hundreds of alleged members of a migrant gang to be held in one of the world’s most notorious mega-prisons. See the photos, video.

The US has deported over 200 alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to be held in a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador after US President Donald Trump controversially invoked wartime legislation to expel them.

El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, said 238 members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and 23 members of the Salvadoran gang MS-13 had arrived and were in custody.

The deportations took place despite a US federal judge granting a temporary suspension of the expulsions order, apparently as planes were already headed to El Salvador.

The arrival of alleged members of Tren de Aragua at the mega-prison.

Guards drag alleged members of the Venezuelan criminal organisation Tren de Aragua into the prison. Picture: AFP

The hellish prison has the capacity for 40,000 inmates. Picture: AFP

An alleged member of the Venezuelan criminal organisation Tren de Aragua upon arrival at the Terrorism Confinement Centre in the city of Tecoluca, El Salvador. Picture: AFP

An accused gang member has his head shaved upon his arrival at the jail. Picture: AFP

Caracas said the action violated both US and international laws.

“Oopsie ... Too late,” Mr Bukele posted on social media in response to an article on the judge’s ruling, adding a crying with laughter emoji.

The Trump administration said it was appealing the court order.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt defended the deportations, saying Mr Trump was “using his core powers as President and Commander-in-Chief to defend the American people from an urgent threat”.

Mr Bukele announced the action on X, saying, “Today, the first 238 members of the Venezuelan criminal organisation, Tren de Aragua, arrived in our country.”

Guards with alleged Tren de Aragua members upon arrival at the Terrorism Confinement Centre in Tecoluca, El Salvador. Picture: AFP

The deportation came after Donald Trump invoked rare wartime legislation. Picture: AFP

He shared a video of several men in handcuffs and shackles being transferred from a plane to a heavily guarded convoy, while the presidency shared a series of photos showing prisoners’ heads being shaved on their arrival in El Salvador.

Mr Bukele said the US would “pay a very low fee” for El Salvador’s custody of the men, but neither he nor American officials specified the amount.

The arrival of alleged members of the Venezuelan criminal organisation Tren de Aragua at the mega-prison. Picture: AFP

The US has sent over 200 alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to be imprisoned in El Salvador. Picture: AFP

The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 allows a president to detain or deport citizens of an enemy nation, and has been invoked only three times before — during major international conflicts, including World War I and II.

US President Donald Trump signed the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

Mr Bukele, in a meeting last month with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, offered to house prisoners from the United States in his country, including members of Tren de Aragua and Salvador’s own MS-13 gang.

The iron-fisted leader is extremely popular in his Latin American country for a successful crackdown on violent gangs, but has faced criticism from human rights groups.

His offer to take in foreign convicts for a fee has divided Salvadorans, who fear it could set back the country’s fight against violent crime.

The Terrorism Confinement Centre is a mega-prison on the edge of a jungle southeast of San Salvador with capacity for 40,000 prisoners.

Inmates there are packed in windowless cells, sleep on metal beds with no mattresses and are forbidden to have visitors.

Mr Rubio said in a statement that as part of the transfer, the United States had deported “top leaders” of MS-13, “plus 21 of its most-wanted to face justice in their homeland.”

— with AFP

Originally published as Trump deports over 200 alleged gang members to mega-prison