Ten more alleged Latin American gang members were deported to El Salvador, a move praised by Secretary of State Marco Rubio despite criticism over a previous deportation violating a court order. These deportations, utilizing the Alien Enemies Act, have sent hundreds to CECOT, a notorious prison described as a “living execution chamber.” The administration’s reliance on tattoos to identify gang members has been challenged, with evidence suggesting many deportees lack criminal records. The Supreme Court has allowed the continued use of the Act, despite ongoing legal challenges and accusations of human rights abuses within CECOT.
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Photojournalist Philip Holsinger documented the arrival of Venezuelan migrants deported from the U.S. to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison. Despite many lacking criminal records, they were subjected to a brutal intake process involving forceful handling, hair shaving, and a stripping of their identity, culminating in a dehumanizing display of forced submission. This occurred amidst El Salvador’s controversial crackdown on gangs, resulting in a massive prison population increase and human rights concerns. Holsinger’s photographs capture the migrants’ despair and highlight the questionable circumstances of their imprisonment. The jarring contrast between the migrants’ perceived innocence and their harsh treatment underscores the larger issues of human rights violations and due process within El Salvador’s intensified security measures.
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A 60 Minutes investigation revealed that 75% of 238 Venezuelans deported by the Trump administration to El Salvador’s Cecot prison lacked criminal records, contradicting government claims. The remaining deportees had mostly minor non-violent offenses, with a small percentage facing serious charges. This deportation practice has drawn criticism, with a federal judge citing “bad faith” and the ACLU suggesting alternative legal methods. Despite the controversy, Trump expressed approval of the arrangement with El Salvador, even suggesting willingness to deport U.S. citizens.
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President Trump has expressed support for sending American citizens to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, despite a judge’s order halting similar deportations of non-citizens under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. This follows an agreement with El Salvador’s President Bukele to deport suspected gang members, with Trump citing cost savings and Bukele’s tough-on-crime stance. A federal judge deemed the government’s previous deportation of a man to El Salvador “wholly lawless,” ordering his return to the U.S. Legal challenges are anticipated if the administration proceeds with deporting American citizens.
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Two hundred and thirty-eight Venezuelan migrants were deported from Texas to El Salvador’s maximum-security CECOT prison, based on the Trump administration’s claim that they are terrorists and gang members. However, internal government documents reveal that the vast majority lack criminal records, with many being artists, athletes, or delivery drivers. The deportations, justified using the Alien Enemies Act, have been challenged legally, with the government citing tattoos and social media posts as evidence, despite expert testimony deeming these unreliable indicators of gang affiliation. The lack of transparency and due process raises serious concerns about the legality and human rights implications of these actions.
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Judge Paula Xinis has ordered the Trump administration to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the U.S. after he was erroneously deported to El Salvador’s dangerous CECOT prison. The deportation stemmed from an admitted administrative error, despite Abrego Garcia having previously been granted protection from deportation due to gang threats in El Salvador. The judge rejected the administration’s claims that Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 gang member, citing a lack of evidence and highlighting the government’s own ability to transport detainees from CECOT. Xinis emphasized the illegality of Abrego Garcia’s arrest, detention, and deportation, deeming his situation “wholly lawless.”
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Joe Rogan, while supportive of crackdowns on illegal immigration, voiced concern over the Trump administration’s deportation practices. He highlighted the cases of two Venezuelan asylum seekers—a makeup artist and a barber—wrongfully deported to El Salvador’s harsh CECOT prison due to mistaken gang affiliations based on tattoos. Rogan emphasized the need for more careful vetting to avoid deporting innocent legal migrants, arguing that such actions harm the overall effort to remove actual criminals. He questioned the lack of accountability and potential for correction within the government’s immigration procedures.
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A man was deported to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act, purportedly due to a soccer logo tattoo, sparking outrage and highlighting concerns about due process and human rights violations. The attorney’s claims paint a disturbing picture of a system seemingly targeting individuals based on superficial characteristics rather than concrete evidence of wrongdoing.
The situation is especially alarming given the destination: CECOT, a mega-prison in El Salvador, described as overwhelmingly overcrowded and lacking in basic humane conditions. This raises serious questions about the ethical implications of deporting individuals to such a facility without a fair trial or any opportunity for legal recourse.… Continue reading
El Salvador and the US have reached an unprecedented agreement where El Salvador will house US criminals and deportees of any nationality, including those from MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, in exchange for a fee. This deal, announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, allows for the deportation of non-Salvadoran criminals to El Salvador and the transfer of US-incarcerated criminals to El Salvador’s mega-prison, CECOT. The agreement has sparked condemnation from human rights groups who cite concerns about democratic backsliding and the violation of migrant rights. Critics also highlight El Salvador’s high incarceration rate and the potential for the detention of innocent individuals under its state of emergency.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood