On a recent Sunday, the U.S. government deported 17 individuals to El Salvador, who are alleged to have connections with transnational gangs, specifically the Tren de Aragua and MS-13. This group was transferred from immigration detention facilities at Guantánamo Bay, a move confirmed by a White House official.

The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced the military transfer, emphasizing that these individuals included ‘murderers and rapists’ linked to these gangs, which have been designated by the Trump administration as foreign terrorists.

All 17 deported individuals were reported to be nationals of El Salvador and Venezuela.

The details surrounding their deportation were initially reported by a news agency, with the White House later corroborating the allegations of their crimes.

El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, took to social media to state that the deportees were ‘confirmed murderers and high-profile offenders,’ highlighting that among them were six individuals accused of child rape.

In March, U.S. immigration officials announced the conclusion of the removal of all migrants detained at Guantánamo Bay, returning them to the United States after previously deporting a number of individuals to the military base.

This operation aligns with Donald Trump’s commitment to pursue what he characterized as the largest deportation initiative in U.S. history, with Guantánamo being utilized as a staging area for these actions.

Reports indicate that the facilities used for immigration detention could potentially be expanded.

Following the recent deportation, the individuals arrived at El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot), noted for its severe conditions.

However, family members of the deported have consistently challenged the administration’s claims of gang affiliations.

Nevertheless, the administration has maintained its silence on providing substantial evidence due to invoking the privilege of ‘state secrets.’

The controversy surrounding these deportations heightened with reports of individuals who do not have known gang ties being sent back to El Salvador.

For instance, a 23-year-old gay makeup artist was deported despite having no apparent gang connections, with his attorney alleging that officials misinterpreted his tattoos as symbols of gang affiliation.

He was reportedly en route to an immigration court hearing in the U.S. at the time of his deportation.

Amidst the backdrop of these actions, the Trump administration faces legal hurdles regarding its implementation of the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act, with a federal appeals court temporarily blocking its enforcement.

A federal judge has mandated that ‘individualized hearings’ be conducted for those targeted for removal, raising concerns about due process.

Furthermore, inconsistencies have emerged, as intelligence agencies reportedly dispute Trump’s assertions linking the Tren de Aragua gang to the Venezuelan government, thereby calling into question the justification provided for the deportations.

Despite these challenges, the Trump administration remains committed to advancing its deportation policies and has sought to appeal for the Supreme Court’s intervention to lift the current restrictions on its wartime deportation powers.