White House denies defying judge's order over deportations to El Salvador

An order to halt the removal of 261 people came too late and had "no legal basis" anyway, the White House says.

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A group of 238 alleged Venezuelan gang members, plus 23 alleged members of the international MS-13 gang, were sent from the US to a prison in El Salvador. Some were removed from the country under a law not invoked since World War Two.

The move came despite a temporary block issued by a judge. The White House said the judge's order itself was not lawful and was issued after the group was deported.

Neither the US government nor El Salvador has identified the detainees, or provided details of their alleged criminality or gang membership.

Announcing the move on Saturday, the day after he signed it, Trump accused the gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) of "perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr5219ezjrpo

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