Washington: In a landmark decision, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled on June 4, 2025, that hundreds of Venezuelan migrants deported to El Salvador under the Trump administration must be granted the opportunity to legally challenge their detentions. The deportations, executed in March, were carried out under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, targeting individuals alleged to be affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang.

Judge Boasberg criticized the administration's actions, stating that the deportees were removed without adequate notice or the chance to contest their deportations, a process he deemed unconstitutional. While the judge did not mandate the return of the migrants to the United States, he ordered the administration to outline within a week how it will facilitate the deportees' legal challenges, potentially through habeas corpus petitions.

The deported individuals are currently detained in El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a facility known for its harsh conditions and criticized by human rights organizations. The Trump administration had paid El Salvador $6 million to detain these migrants.

This ruling follows a broader legal debate over the use of the Alien Enemies Act for deportations. While some courts have upheld the administration's authority under the act, others have raised concerns about due process violations. The U.S. Supreme Court had previously intervened to halt certain deportations under the act, emphasizing the need for judicial review.

The case underscores ongoing tensions between the executive branch's immigration policies and judicial oversight, particularly concerning the rights of migrants and the legal frameworks governing their treatment.