US Deports 17 Suspected Gang Members Tied to Terrorism to El Salvador, According to Rubio

March 31, 2025 TruthUSA

Last month, the Department of State designated the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs as foreign terrorist organizations.

On Sunday evening, U.S. officials transferred 17 suspected members of the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 terrorist gangs to El Salvador, as confirmed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday morning.

These gangs were labeled foreign terrorist organizations by the Department of State in February, a move tied to the Trump administration’s efforts to focus on illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds.

Rubio described the operation as a “successful counter-terrorism operation,” stating that the U.S. military transported 17 individuals affiliated with Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, and MS-13, a Salvadoran gang, to the Central American nation. He added that U.S. officials collaborated with Salvadoran authorities to facilitate the deportations.

“These criminals will no longer terrorize our communities and citizens,” Rubio stated. “Once again, we extend our gratitude to … the government of El Salvador for their unparalleled partnership in safeguarding our nations from transnational crime and terrorism.”

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele confirmed the U.S. action on the social media platform X, asserting that all those deported from the United States “are confirmed murderers and high-profile offenders, including six child rapists.”

In his social media post, Bukele shared a video showing what appears to be U.S. military officials transferring the individuals into Salvadoran custody, prior to their heads being shaved and their relocation to a prison.

The Trump administration is currently contesting a federal judge’s ruling that prevents U.S. officials from applying the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 for deportations of alleged gang members. Earlier in March, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a block on the administration’s use of this law for deportations and inquired about a deportation flight that was not executed.

Last week, a U.S. appeals court refused to reverse Boasberg’s ruling halting the deportation of Venezuelan undocumented immigrants to El Salvador, which led the government to request intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court.

“In this case, the district court’s orders have countered the President’s decisions on how to safeguard the Nation from foreign terrorist organizations and present detrimental implications for sensitive foreign negotiations,” Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris stated in the filings to the Supreme Court.

The legal dispute began when lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on behalf of five Venezuelan undocumented immigrants in Texas, soon after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act.

Beyond the appeals, the Trump administration has cited a “state secrets privilege,” indicating it will not provide Boasberg with more details regarding the deportations. Concurrently, President Donald Trump and several Republicans have called for Boasberg’s impeachment and removal.

In response to those demands, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts remarked earlier this month that he believes “impeachment is not an appropriate response to a disagreement over a judicial ruling.”

Trump has placed significant emphasis on mass deportations and stricter border controls during his second term. At the start of his presidency, he signed multiple executive orders and directives focused on border security and the removal of undocumented immigrants, including the termination of the Biden-era CPB One app, proclaiming a national emergency at the southern U.S. border, and abolishing birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrant parents.

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