Two months ago, the U.S. government deported nearly 240 Venezuelan men to a notorious prison in El Salvador known for torture. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed this action sent a strong message to criminal illegal immigrants to leave the country.
However, new research reveals that many of these men entered the United States legally and did not break any immigration laws.
A recent report by the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, examined how these Venezuelans arrived in the U.S. It found that at least 50 of them had legal entry before they were arrested without due process, detained, and sent to El Salvador.
The U.S. government has kept details about these men secret. They were denied any court hearings before being deported, and no official explanations have been provided. Families have struggled to find information, relying on leaks and social media posts. The men remain isolated in prison, unable to contact lawyers or relatives.
Among the deported, some had entered through the CBP One app, a legal system set up by the Biden administration to manage asylum seekers at official border points. Some were even granted parole, allowing them to live and work legally in the U.S. before their sudden arrest and deportation.
Others entered as tourists or through the refugee resettlement program, which promises protection and a path to citizenship. Instead, they were detained and sent to a foreign prison.
Families have provided documents confirming their relatives’ legal status, such as appointment confirmations and refugee travel papers. The government has not disputed these claims but continues to label all deportees as illegal gang members, a claim contradicted by the available evidence.
Legal battles are ongoing. A federal judge recently ordered the Trump administration to allow communication between one deported Venezuelan and his lawyers, marking a rare court intervention in this case.
Appeals courts have also ruled that some deportations violated legal agreements protecting asylum seekers, ordering the government to facilitate their return to the U.S..
This situation highlights serious concerns about the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport immigrants without due process, sending many who entered legally to a prison known for human rights abuses. Families and advocates warn this sets a dangerous precedent for immigration enforcement.
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