White House Justifies Deportations to El Salvador Amid Court Challenges

The White House has defended its deportation of gang members to El Salvador despite a court order halting the actions. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted the legality of the actions taken under President Trump and expressed confidence in the identified gang affiliations of the deportees. The agreement with El Salvador entails imprisonment costs, which the administration considers reasonable in light of public safety concerns as illegal border crossings decrease significantly.

The White House has justified its recent deportations of criminal foreign nationals to El Salvador, in the face of a court order. The deportations occurred over the weekend, involving 261 gang members who had entered the U.S. illegally under President Biden’s tenure, with support from El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.

Despite a court ruling that halted the deportations and mandated the return of those previously removed, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Trump acted legally. She maintained that the flights had departed prior to the court order being issued on Saturday and expressed the administration’s intent to address due process concerns in court.

Leavitt assured that the administration was confident in the identification of those deported as gang affiliates, countering worries about potential wrongful labels. She reported that of those deported, 137 individuals were labeled as terrorists under the Alien Enemies Act, notably including members from the Venezuelan prison gang “Tren de Aragua” and MS-13.

President Bukele will imprison the deportees for $6 million annually, which Leavitt termed a negligible cost compared to the threat posed by gang members in the U.S. Furthermore, under Biden, criminal activity from such gangs has been reported across 22 states. The Trump administration asserts that stringent immigration enforcement is crucial in combating the recent border crisis. The number of illegal border crossings reportedly fell to a record low in February, indicating a 90% decrease from 2024.

In summary, the White House defends its decision to deport gang members to El Salvador against a court ruling, arguing compliance with legal protocols. The administration remains confident in the identification of deportees as gang affiliates and emphasizes the financial practicality of the arrangement with El Salvador. As illegal border crossings decline, the administration aims to maintain aggressive immigration enforcement as a response to recent challenges.

Original Source: www.kpvi.com