Tom Homan, the border czar, expressed confidence that all the migrants deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration were Venezuelan gang members.
President Trump utilized the Alien Enemies Act from the 18th century to transport alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang to prisons in El Salvador.
However, legal proceedings have halted these efforts due to concerns about due process. Court documents revealed that many of the migrants on these flights did not have a documented criminal background in the US, according to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official.
Homan mentioned that many gang members might not have criminal histories, similar to terrorists who are not always in terrorist databases.
He emphasized that the individuals deported to El Salvador were designated as terrorists and all Venezuelan migrants on the flight were TdA members, based on extensive criminal investigations and intelligence reports.
There have been allegations from Jerce Reyes Barrios’ lawyer that he was wrongly deported due to his Real Madrid tattoo, which the Department of Homeland Security denies.
Homan stated that all concerns would be addressed through legal proceedings. He also mentioned that US government officials with decades of experience had thoroughly reviewed the intelligence information and were confident in their assessments.
Regarding due process for the migrants, Homan referred to a case where an illegal Venezuelan migrant killed a nursing student, questioning the lack of due process for the victim.
The Trump administration has deported 260 illegal migrants to El Salvador’s harsh prison system, but a US District Judge ordered a halt to these flights and is investigating potential defiance of his orders.
The legal issue revolves around the use of the Alien Enemies Act by Trump for deportations, a statute rarely used in US history, last seen during World War II to detain Japanese Americans.
Homan assured that they would abide by court orders regarding the Alien Enemies Act and emphasized the importance of targeting the most dangerous individuals despite legal challenges.
