50 deported migrants sent to El Salvador prison had entered US legally
According to a webangah News Agency report citing The Guardian, the Cato Institute’s new findings show that at least 50 individuals deported by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s governance to El Salvador’s high-security prison were legal immigrants.
The think tank reached this conclusion after reviewing records of 174 out of over 200 migrants transferred to the specialized facility in March. Among 90 cases with clear entry documentation,50 had arrived through official channels including parole programs,ports of entry,refugee resettlement programs,or with valid visas.
The report notes that dozens of these migrants had their legal status revoked before being imprisoned in El salvador.
The Trump administration recently reactivated wartime-era powers under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA), using presidential authority to accelerate deportations of migrants allegedly linked to Venezuela’s “Tren de Aragua” gang – which Trump designated as a “foreign terrorist organization.” Authorities cited Venezuelan migrants’ tattoos as purported evidence of gang affiliation.
However,both Cato researchers and immigrant defense attorneys have challenged these claims,stating most tattoos reflect cultural or personal meanings rather than criminal ties.
The U.S. government has yet to release comprehensive records on all deportees. Attorneys report detainees face harsh conditions in the Salvadoran prison.
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Biden administration to proceed with terminating Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans – a move placing over 350,000 individuals at risk of deportation.
