Trump Administration Seeks Delay in Detailing Plans for Venezuelan Migrants at El Salvador’s CECOT Prison
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration has requested additional time from a federal judge to provide detailed plans regarding the nearly 150 Venezuelan migrants deported to El Salvador’s CECOT prison earlier this year. The request, submitted to U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, comes amid a complex legal dispute surrounding the migrants’ status and the administration’s efforts to comply with court orders requiring due process protections.
Lawyers for the Justice Department cited the recent capture and removal of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s long-standing leader, during a surprise U.S. military operation in Caracas as a key factor in the request. The motion argued that the “substantial changes on the ground in Venezuela” and the “fluid nature of the unfolding situation” necessitate an additional seven days to comply with the court’s directives. However, Judge Boasberg declined to immediately grant the extension, noting that the administration had failed to notify opposing counsel beforehand, as required by local court rules.
This development follows months of contentious hearings between the Trump administration and legal representatives of the 252 Venezuelan migrants initially deported to CECOT in March under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The law, rarely used in modern times, was invoked despite an emergency court order intended to block the rapid removal of certain migrants. The migrants were later transferred back to Venezuela in July as part of a prisoner exchange, further complicating efforts to track their whereabouts and legal status.
The situation has raised significant concerns about the migrants’ access to due process and their ability to challenge allegations tying them to the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The administration has maintained that many of those deported were gang members, though evidence supporting these claims has been disputed by their legal counsel. The case has spotlighted the challenges of balancing national security interests with the legal rights of migrants, especially in the context of international prisoner exchanges.
Judge Boasberg has emphasized the government’s obligation to provide due process protections to the migrants, whether they remain in U.S. custody or abroad. The court’s scrutiny reflects broader tensions over immigration enforcement policies and the use of antiquated laws like the Alien Enemies Act. The ongoing litigation also underscores the difficulties faced by lawyers attempting to locate and represent individuals who have fled persecution and now remain in hiding.
The Department of Justice’s request for more time highlights the evolving geopolitical landscape following Maduro’s ouster and the United States’ intensified focus on Venezuela. The operation that led to Maduro’s capture was a significant escalation in U.S. foreign policy, with implications for regional stability and the treatment of Venezuelan migrants.
For more information on the legal framework surrounding immigration enforcement, see the Department of Justice. Details on the Alien Enemies Act and its historical context can be found at the National Archives. The role of U.S. District Courts in immigration cases is outlined by the United States Courts. Updates on U.S. foreign policy toward Venezuela are available through the Department of State.
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