(NewsNation) — A group of 17 suspected criminals and Venezuelan gang members was flown to El Salvador on Sunday night in what Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized Monday as a “successful counter-terrorism operation.”
Rubio wrote on X that the U.S. military transferred a group of violent criminals from the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 organizations, “including murderers and rapists from the United States.”
The post also said that President Donald Trump designated Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as foreign terrorist organizations “in order to keep the American people safe.”
“These criminals will no longer terrorize our communities and citizens,” Rubio wrote.
17 immigrants deported, White House confirmed
A post on X by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele included video of military members escorting the 17 immigrants off of a U.S. Air Force plane and being transported to an El Salvador prison.
A White House official confirmed to NewsNation on Monday that the 17 immigrants were deported within regular immigration law. All of them had final orders of removal and deportation orders, the official said.
Fox News published the names of the 17 people in a social media post Monday. The list included the reported criminal histories of the immigrants, seven of which a White House official told Fox News were members of Tren de Aragua.
The post said that the 17 immigrants were previously being held at Guantanamo Bay.
‘Every day, America becomes safer,’ because of Trump: Karoline Leavitt
Others included on the list included Salvadorian nationals that the White House official told the network were convicted of serious crimes, including rape, homicide and sexual assault of a minor, the post said.
“Every day, America becomes safer, thanks to the leadership of President Trump,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement provided to Fox News. “If you’re an illegal terrorist or criminal – the Trump administration is coming for you.”
Rubio’s social media post extended thanks to Bukele and the El Salvador government for their “unparalleled partnership in making our countries safe against transnational crime and terrorism.”
Deportations under the Alien Enemies Act
The deportations come just days after the Department of Defense asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in overturning a U.S. district court judge’s ruling to temporarily block deportations of Venezuelan nationals who were deported under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
Last week, Judge James Boasberg paused the scheduled flights, saying that the detainees deserve a hearing in which they plan to deny that they are gang members.
Boasberg is also seeking more details about two flights on March 15 to decide if the administration defied his oral and written orders to block the flights. A panel of appellate court judges then ruled in a 2-1 decision upholding a previous order that temporarily blocks the deportations of the migrants.
Boasberg previously ordered planeloads of Venezuelan detainees to return to the United States after they had taken off. That did not take place, however, and since then, Boasberg has asked the administration for further details about the timing of the plane’s departures. Administration officials have refused, claiming “state secret privilege” in declining to provide the judge with more specifics.
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LA GUAIRA, VENEZUELA – MARCH 24: Flight carrying Venezuelan deportees from United States arrives at La Guaira, Venezuela on March 24, 2025. The first flight with Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States landed in Venezuela early Monday, after both governments reached an agreement to restart repatriation flights. (Photo by Ivan McGregor/Anadolu via Getty Images) -
FILE – Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States deplane at the Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez, File) -
Migrants from Afghanistan, Russia and China, who were deported from the U.S., ride an elevator after visiting the Australian Consulate in Panama City, with the hope to start an asylum application process, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) -
Jasmin Ramirez holds a photo of her son, Angelo Escalona, at a government-organized rally protesting the deportation of alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, who were transferred to an El Salvador prison, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Ramirez said she hadn’t heard from her son since he called to say he was with a group of migrants about to be deported on March 14. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) -
Migrants who were held in a Panamanian immigration shelter after being deported from the U.S. embraced upon arriving in Panama City on Saturday, March 8, 2025, after authorities gave them 30 days to leave the country. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) -
LA GUAIRA, VENEZUELA – FEBRUARY 24: Venezuelans deported from the United States arrive at Simon Bolivar International Airport on February 24, 2025 in La Guaira, Venezuela. 242 Venezuelans deported by the United States arrived to their country on the third day of repatriation flights. The repatriations are part of a deal reached by the governments of the United States and Venezuela last January and also part of Trump’s administration plan to deport millions of Venezuelans allegedly living illegally in the United States. (Photo by Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has asked attorneys for the five Venezuelans who are challenging the administration’s efforts to invoke the Alien Enemies Act to respond to the Justice Department by Tuesday morning.
NewsNation has also learned that Boasberg has set a hearing for Thursday afternoon to examine whether the Trump administration violated his previous court order that bans deportation of the Alien Enemies Act.
