Staff Reports
In a decisive move over the weekend, former President Donald Trump dusted off the Alien Enemies Act to facilitate the deportation of hundreds of gang members from the United States, including notorious groups like Tren de Aragua and MS-13. The federal government has numbered these groups among foreign terrorist organizations, highlighting the seriousness of Trump’s actions against crime that has been left to fester during the Biden administration.
Rounding up over 250 undesirables, the Trump administration orchestrated deportation flights to San Salvador, courtesy of a sweet deal with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. Under this agreement, the U.S. is compensating the Central American nation to take back its criminals—because why let them run amok here when they can wreak havoc where they belong? This means more than 238 gang members associated with Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, along with 23 from MS-13, have gone from living large in the United States to being escorted back to their home country. It’s a simple solution: if you commit crime, you get the free one-way ticket out of the country.
Of course, just when it looked like the deportations could be executed without a hitch, federal Judge James E. Boasberg decided to rain on the parade with a last-minute restraining order blocking Trump from using the Alien Enemies Act for this purpose. A judge stepping in right after the process already began? Talk about a classic case of judicial overreach. Bukele had some fun with this twist on social media, playfully suggesting it was too late to halt the deportations—an interesting indication of how both leaders seem committed to cracking down on crime despite bureaucratic hurdles.
Photos: First Look at Trump's Deported Gang Members Arriving at El Salvador's Mega-Prison https://t.co/P8uRkfrurt
— Steve Ferguson (@lsferguson) March 17, 2025
Illustrations of the airport action paint a vivid picture of the gang members being escorted back in a less than glamorous fashion. Photos depict them being ushered into El Salvador’s infamous mega-prison, the Centralized Confinement Center for Terrorists (CECOP), complete with masked guards and an unmistakable air of defeat. This is not just a slap on the wrist; it’s a clear message to those tempted to live a life of crime.
Bukele continues to earn his stripes as a pro-law enforcement leader. Last year, he took serious measures securing the country’s record-low homicide rate, boasting only 114 murders in a population of over six million. In contrast, the chaos in U.S. cities has exploded under liberal leadership, where crime rates have soared, proving real law and order takes tough stances—not the touchy-feely approaches preferred by some in the current administration.
The contrast couldn’t be starker. While Trump pushes for a tougher immigration stance to ensure national security and community safety, others wish to coddle criminals. With every deportation flight that takes off, a reminder rings clear: America is not a sanctuary for those who engage in terrorism and gang violence, and it’s time to return to the policies that prioritize American safety above all else.
