ACLU Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration for Illegal Deportations to El Salvador

The ACLU and Democracy Forward have filed a lawsuit claiming that recent deportations of over 200 individuals from the U.S. to El Salvador were illegal and violated a federal judge’s order. The deportations involved individuals purportedly linked to gang activity and were carried out under the Alien Enemies Act. Legal experts have raised concerns regarding due process and the implications of such actions.

On Monday, the ACLU and Democracy Forward initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration, condemning the recent deportation of over 200 individuals to El Salvador as unlawful. They claim the deportations blatantly violated a federal judge’s directive to return the migrants to the United States to ensure proper due process. The situation escalated when videos surfaced showing the deportees being restrained and transported to a high-security prison in El Salvador, with additional footage of their heads and beards being shaved.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that among the 261 deported individuals, 137 were removed under the Alien Enemies Act, with various affiliations, including Venezuelans and members of the MS-13 gang. Leavitt emphasized that all deportees were gang members, an assertion that has drawn significant criticism. Francisco Ugarte from the SF Public Defender’s Office expressed deep concern regarding the lack of evidence for the deportees’ removal, stating that “every single person in America should be terrified at what just happened.”

The lawsuit highlights the administration’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law designed for extreme circumstances. Ugarte explained that this act is meant for instances of declared war or foreign invasion, but the Trump administration’s use of it to target criminal organizations raises legal and ethical questions. The plaintiffs assert that this misuse represents a flagrant disregard for legal standards.

Venezuelan officials responded to the deportations by labeling them as kidnappings, while the Trump administration defended its actions by declaring that the affected planes had already entered international airspace by the time the judge issued the restraining order. Legal experts, such as Catherine Seitz of the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, voiced concerns over the violations of due process and the erosion of respect for judicial authority during the deportations. Furthermore, the history of similar roundups during the previous Trump administration only heightens anxieties regarding the treatment of these individuals without proper judicial oversight.

The lawsuit filed by the ACLU and Democracy Forward against the Trump administration underscores significant legal concerns surrounding recent deportations to El Salvador. The actions taken are viewed as violations of a federal judge’s order, raising alarms regarding due process and lawful procedures. With growing apprehension expressed by legal experts and advocates, the case highlights the critical importance of adhering to judicial directives to safeguard the rights of affected individuals.

Original Source: www.ktvu.com