Amid backlash from rights groups, the White House insists it acted within the law regarding the deportation of 261 individuals, including alleged Venezuelan gang members, arguing that the judge's order was issued after the removals.
White House Refutes Allegations of Court Order Violation in Controversial Deportations
White House Refutes Allegations of Court Order Violation in Controversial Deportations
The Biden administration stands firm against claims of illegal deportations that bypassed a federal judge's order during a high-profile operation involving alleged gang members.
The White House is pushing back against accusations from human rights organizations that suggest it violated a federal judge's order regarding the deportation of alleged gang members during a mass operation over the weekend. A total of 261 individuals, comprising 238 alleged Venezuelan gang members and 23 purported members of the notorious MS-13 gang, were deported to El Salvador, where they were processed at a controversial mega-prison.
This action has drawn scrutiny as a federal judge had issued a temporary block, demanding a 14-day pause on deportations shortly after the removals occurred. In a statement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declared that the administration acted lawfully, contending that the judge's order was issued post-deportation and lacked a legal foundation.
In response to the deportations, US District Judge James Boasberg highlighted constitutional concerns related to the government’s failure to comply with judicial rulings, inviting further legal discourse on the matter. The U.S. Department of Justice supported the White House, claiming that the mass removals had already taken place prior to the court’s directive.
The deportees, their identities and alleged gang affiliations largely undisclosed, are part of an aggressive strategy initiated by the Biden administration aimed at curbing illegal immigration. Some family members of the deported individuals allege their loved ones were wrongly identified as gang members.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro condemned the deportations and denounced what he described as unjustified criminalization practices concerning Venezuelan migrants. Meanwhile, human rights advocates have voiced their concerns that these actions may set a concerning precedent for immigration enforcement and civil liberties in the United States.
Moving forward, the legal implications of these deportations may question the balance of power between the judiciary and executive branches in immigration matters, as pressure mounts for a more transparent and just process in the treatment of migrants.
