Trump Deports 250 Venezuelan Gang Members to El Salvador Mega Prison

The recent deportation of over 250 alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to El Salvador's notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) has sparked outrage and legal controversy. Authorized by former President Donald Trump under the rarely used Alien Enemies Act, the deportations occurred despite a temporary restraining order from a U.S. federal judge. In exchange for housing these deportees, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has struck a $6 million deal with the U.S., showcasing his hardline approach to crime. CECOT, which is designed to hold up to 40,000 inmates, has been criticized for its inhumane conditions, including severe overcrowding and lack of basic necessities. Human rights organizations have condemned the prison as a 'black hole of human rights,' with reports of deaths due to neglect and brutality. Critics argue that the use of the Alien Enemies Act for peacetime deportations sets a dangerous precedent for civil liberties in the U.S.