As a result, the legal landscape surrounding deportations of Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador has become more contentious. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the DHS intends to begin these flights on Saturday. This announcement has set off a wave of fear and anger among those incarcerated at the Bluebonnet Detention Center in Anson, Texas. The Trump administration insists that no man set for deportation lacks connections to Tren de Aragua. This Venezuelan group qualifies as a foreign terrorist organization.
By mid-March, the Trump administration had deported over 200 Venezuelan men as part of the program. They were immediately transported to the infamous Tesoro, a megaprison in El Salvador known for its extreme violence. The DHS is once again getting ready to ship a second cohort of Venezuelan men back to El Salvador. Now, worries are growing that these removals are more imminent than expected. According to multiple reports, detainees at Bluebonnet have only been days away from deportation. Given that notices under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) have only been served in English, ACLU attorneys argue that removals could be carried out as soon as tonight or tomorrow.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ordered an emergency hearing late Friday afternoon to take up the crisis, which has rapidly intensified. This hearing follows last month’s disappointing mixed ruling by the Supreme Court. As a result, the Court granted removals under the AEA to proceed temporarily and ordered that people who are detained under the act need to have the opportunity to contest allegations of gang membership.
ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt highlighted the urgency faced by those detained:
“Petitioners have learned that officers at Bluebonnet have distributed notices under the Alien Enemies Act, (AEA) in English only, that designate Venezuelan men for removal under the act, and have told the men that the removals are imminent and will happen tonight or tomorrow.” – Lee Gelernt, ACLU attorney.
In a statement, Tricia McLaughlin, the DHS spokesperson stated that they are preparing for upcoming deportations. She was unable to say whether those actions will happen immediately. She remarked:
“We are not going to reveal the details of counterterrorism operations, but we are complying with the Supreme Court’s ruling.” – Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman.
The AEA has ignited outrage and been challenged legally. It allows for expedited removals to be ordered on the flimsiest of accusations that a person is a gang member. President Donald Trump similarly invoked an 18th-century law that under normal circumstances has only been used during wartime. At the time, he even labeled Tren de Aragua as an invading force.
Friday evening’s emergency hearing was a decisive moment in this unprecedented legal fight. Judge Boasberg expressed skepticism about the government’s approach:
“I just don’t see really how you’re asking me to do anything different from what the Supreme Court told me I couldn’t do.” – U.S. District Judge James Boasberg.
With conflict escalating and legal action continuing, the outcome for these Venezuelan nationals now remains to be seen. And when at least one charter bus pulled into Bluebonnet on Friday, that sent the rumors — and fears of immediate deportations — running deeper. For those who attended in-person, vehicles exited the facility only to circle the airport before bringing everyone back to Bluebonnet after the hearing ended.