Latest news with #Venezuelans'
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge orders Trump administration to bring Venezuelans back from El Salvador prison
Backed by a Supreme Court order, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday that the Trump administration must bring back to the United States hundreds of suspected Venezuelan gang members who were sent to a mega prison in El Salvador without any court review of the criminal allegations against them. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg of Washington, D.C., said the alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang who were deported in mid-March under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act are entitled to filing habeas petitions to challenge the legal basis for their deportation and imprisonment in the notorious facility in El Salvador known as CECOT, the Spanish initials for the Terrorism Confinement Center. Describing the Venezuelans' ordeal as 'Kafkaesque,' the judge noted that while the U.S. Supreme Court in April overturned his injunction stopping the removals of the suspected Venezuelan gang members, the justices ruled that the migrants have a due-process right to contest their detention on an individual basis in the United States. 'Perhaps the President lawfully invoked the Alien Enemies Act. Perhaps, moreover, [the Trump administration is] are correct that Plaintiffs [Venezuelan immigrants] are gang members,' Boasberg wrote in his 69-page order. 'But — and this is the critical point — there is simply no way to know for sure, as the CECOT Plaintiffs never had any opportunity to challenge the Government's say-so. 'Defendants instead spirited away planeloads of people before any such challenge could be made,' Boasberg added. 'And now, significant evidence has come to light indicating that many of those currently entombed in CECOT have no connection to the gang and thus languish in a foreign prison on flimsy, even frivolous, accusations.' Boasberg's rebuke of the Department of Homeland Security's decision to invoke the the archaic war powers law as grounds for summarily deporting the suspected Venezuelan gang members followed a major ruling by the Supreme Court in April. The court vacated the judge's temporary restraining order that had blocked the removal of alleged Venezuelan gang members, giving the Trump administration the green light to use the wartime law to carry out the deportations of certain migrants. The majority ruled that challenges to the detention and removal of migrants using the Alien Enemies Act must be brought as legal petitions in the area where the plaintiffs were held in the United States, not in Washington, D.C., where the American Civil Liberties Union filed its petition. But the majority also found that such migrants are entitled to due process of the law as part of their removal proceedings. The plaintiffs who brought the lawsuit in question said they had been wrongly accused of being members of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Alien Enemies Act detainees 'must receive notice after the date of this order that they are subject to removal under the act,' Chief Justice John Roberts wrote. 'The notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief in the proper venue before such removal occurs.' The high court opinion came just as the judge who issued the temporary restraining order was mulling whether to hold Trump administration officials in contempt for violating his order to pause the flights of Venezuelan migrants to the mega prison in El Salvador that began in March. Boasberg originally imposed a 14-day temporary restraining order halting the deportations of alleged members of Tren de Aragua. In a concurring opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that all nine members of the Supreme Court agree that judicial review is available to migrants. 'The only question is where that judicial review should occur,' Kavanaugh wrote. Among the immigrants sent to the prison in El Salvador was a Maryland man. In a related legal dispute, the Trump administration admitted that Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran native, was deported there due to an 'administrative error' — despite an immigration court order that he not be removed from the United States. Another federal judge ordered the Trump administration to bring him back to the U.S. The Supreme Court affirmed the judge's order directing the Trump administration to 'facilitate' Garcia's release, but he's still imprisoned in El Salvador.
Miami Herald
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Judge orders Trump administration to bring Venezuelans back from El Salvador prison
Backed by a Supreme Court order, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday that the Trump administration must bring back to the United States hundreds of suspected Venezuelan gang members who were sent to a mega prison in El Salvador without any court review of the criminal allegations against them. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg of Washington, D.C., said the alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang who were deported in mid-March under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act are entitled to filing habeas petitions to challenge the legal basis for their deportation and imprisonment in the notorious facility in El Salvador known as CECOT, the Spanish initials for the Terrorism Confinement Center. Describing the Venezuelans' ordeal as 'Kafkaesque,' the judge noted that while the U.S. Supreme Court in April overturned his injunction stopping the removals of the suspected Venezuelan gang members, the justices ruled that the migrants have a due-process right to contest their detention on an individual basis in the United States. 'Perhaps the President lawfully invoked the Alien Enemies Act. Perhaps, moreover, [the Trump administration is] are correct that Plaintiffs [Venezuelan immigrants] are gang members,' Boasberg wrote in his 69-page order. 'But — and this is the critical point — there is simply no way to know for sure, as the CECOT Plaintiffs never had any opportunity to challenge the Government's say-so. 'Defendants instead spirited away planeloads of people before any such challenge could be made,' Boasberg added. 'And now, significant evidence has come to light indicating that many of those currently entombed in CECOT have no connection to the gang and thus languish in a foreign prison on flimsy, even frivolous, accusations.' Boasberg's rebuke of the Department of Homeland Security's decision to invoke the the archaic war powers law as grounds for summarily deporting the suspected Venezuelan gang members followed a major ruling by the Supreme Court in April. The court vacated the judge's temporary restraining order that had blocked the removal of alleged Venezuelan gang members, giving the Trump administration the green light to use the wartime law to carry out the deportations of certain migrants. The majority ruled that challenges to the detention and removal of migrants using the Alien Enemies Act must be brought as legal petitions in the area where the plaintiffs were held in the United States, not in Washington, D.C., where the American Civil Liberties Union filed its petition. But the majority also found that such migrants are entitled to due process of the law as part of their removal proceedings. The plaintiffs who brought the lawsuit in question said they had been wrongly accused of being members of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Alien Enemies Act detainees 'must receive notice after the date of this order that they are subject to removal under the act,' Chief Justice John Roberts wrote. 'The notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief in the proper venue before such removal occurs.' The high court opinion came just as the judge who issued the temporary restraining order was mulling whether to hold Trump administration officials in contempt for violating his order to pause the flights of Venezuelan migrants to the mega prison in El Salvador that began in March. Boasberg originally imposed a 14-day temporary restraining order halting the deportations of alleged members of Tren de Aragua. In a concurring opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that all nine members of the Supreme Court agree that judicial review is available to migrants. 'The only question is where that judicial review should occur,' Kavanaugh wrote. Among the immigrants sent to the prison in El Salvador was a Maryland man. In a related legal dispute, the Trump administration admitted that Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran native, was deported there due to an 'administrative error' — despite an immigration court order that he not be removed from the United States. Another federal judge ordered the Trump administration to bring him back to the U.S. The Supreme Court affirmed the judge's order directing the Trump administration to 'facilitate' Garcia's release, but he's still imprisoned in El Salvador.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion - Trump is scoring huge victories in Latin America
May has been an important month for the advancement of President Trump's 'America First' policy in Latin America. Oil agreements with the dictatorial regime in Venezuela were canceled. Narcoterrorism charges were filed against Mexican cartels for the first time. The Bahamas said no more to human trafficking in Cuba, Argentina rejected an invitation from Communist China and Ecuador signed an energy alliance with Israel. Venezuela, a key ally of Iran, will no longer benefit from oil agreements signed with the Biden administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X, 'The U.S. will not waver in our support for Venezuelans' fighting for democracy and the safe return of all wrongfully detained Americans.' This is good news for Latin America, but also for Israel, Iran's foe. Argentina said no to China. President Javier Milei announced last September that he would travel to Beijing, but he did not. Argentina instead sent a low-level delegation and ultimately rejected signing the declaration of the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Forum. The U.S. has strengthened its economic, political and military alliance with Argentina, one of the richest countries in Latin America, known for its extensive oil and mineral resources. Ecuador's new government has strengthened its alliance with the U.S. and with Israel. In a region influenced by Iran and China, things are changing under new American leadership. President Daniel Noboa is promoting intelligence cooperation against drug trafficking, an energy alliance and the opening of a new office in Jerusalem — a dramatic change for an old friend of Palestine. Paraguay remains firm in its relationship with the U.S. and with Taiwan. The South American country has weakened China's strategy of displacing Taipei's presence in Latin America. A few days ago, Japan and Paraguay signed an agreement elevating their relationship to a strategic partnership — a severe blow to China and a powerful message of support for the U.S. and Taiwan. China and its ports are losing ground. Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo and Adm. Alvin Holsey, chief of U.S. Southern Command, signed an agreement to provide expertise and technical assistance for the modernization of the Quetzal Port. The agreement will enhance the port's role as a strategic commercial node for the region, strengthening security and upgrading services. The strategy is in line with U.S. efforts to ensure port and maritime safety in several Latin American countries, including Panama. Guatemala is also a key ally of Taiwan and a strong supporter of U.S. migration policy. A new milestone in the fight against drug trafficking was also recently achieved: For the very first time, Mexican drug cartels are being charged with narcoterrorism. On May 13, the Department of Justice announced charges against the leaders of the Sinaloa cartel for narcoterrorism, material support of terrorism and drug trafficking. This is a key step forward in the fight against the trafficking of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamines and heroin into the U.S. Fighting human trafficking is another key of effort of U.S. foreign policy in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Bahamas has decided to review its support for the Cuban dictatorship. American leadership has been key in getting the Bahamas to pledge to directly pay Cuban doctors, ending the regime's human trafficking business. These changes show the way for a new approach on the relationship with Cuba. America is back — not only bringing order and safety to the U.S.-Mexico border, but strengthening its relations with Latin America. Drug cartels are feeling greater pressure, Iran is no longer visiting the region with warships and China is desperate to maintain its partnerships in the Americas. These changes are helping to build stronger ties with the U.S., Israel and Taiwan. Trump's 'America First' policy is also a 'Latin America First' policy, creating greater prosperity, security and wellbeing for all. Arturo McFields is an exiled journalist, former Nicaraguan ambassador to the Organization of American States, and a former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps. He is an alumnus of the National Defense University's Security and Defense Seminar and the Harvard Leadership course. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Trump is scoring huge victories in Latin America
May has been an important month for the advancement of President Trump's 'America First' policy in Latin America. Oil agreements with the dictatorial regime in Venezuela were canceled. Narcoterrorism charges were filed against Mexican cartels for the first time. The Bahamas said no more to human trafficking in Cuba, Argentina rejected an invitation from Communist China and Ecuador signed an energy alliance with Israel. Venezuela, a key ally of Iran, will no longer benefit from oil agreements signed with the Biden administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X, 'The U.S. will not waver in our support for Venezuelans' fighting for democracy and the safe return of all wrongfully detained Americans.' This is good news for Latin America, but also for Israel, Iran's foe. Argentina said no to China. President Javier Milei announced last September that he would travel to Beijing, but he did not. Argentina instead sent a low-level delegation and ultimately rejected signing the declaration of the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Forum. The U.S. has strengthened its economic, political and military alliance with Argentina, one of the richest countries in Latin America, known for its extensive oil and mineral resources. Ecuador's new government has strengthened its alliance with the U.S. and with Israel. In a region influenced by Iran and China, things are changing under new American leadership. President Daniel Noboa is promoting intelligence cooperation against drug trafficking, an energy alliance and the opening of a new office in Jerusalem — a dramatic change for an old friend of Palestine. Paraguay remains firm in its relationship with the U.S. and with Taiwan. The South American country has weakened China's strategy of displacing Taipei's presence in Latin America. A few days ago, Japan and Paraguay signed an agreement elevating their relationship to a strategic partnership — a severe blow to China and a powerful message of support for the U.S. and Taiwan. China and its ports are losing ground. Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo and Adm. Alvin Holsey, chief of U.S. Southern Command, signed an agreement to provide expertise and technical assistance for the modernization of the Quetzal Port. The agreement will enhance the port's role as a strategic commercial node for the region, strengthening security and upgrading services. The strategy is in line with U.S. efforts to ensure port and maritime safety in several Latin American countries, including Panama. Guatemala is also a key ally of Taiwan and a strong supporter of U.S. migration policy. A new milestone in the fight against drug trafficking was also recently achieved: For the very first time, Mexican drug cartels are being charged with narcoterrorism. On May 13, the Department of Justice announced charges against the leaders of the Sinaloa cartel for narcoterrorism, material support of terrorism and drug trafficking. This is a key step forward in the fight against the trafficking of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamines and heroin into the U.S. Fighting human trafficking is another key of effort of U.S. foreign policy in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Bahamas has decided to review its support for the Cuban dictatorship. American leadership has been key in getting the Bahamas to pledge to directly pay Cuban doctors, ending the regime's human trafficking business. These changes show the way for a new approach on the relationship with Cuba. America is back — not only bringing order and safety to the U.S.-Mexico border, but strengthening its relations with Latin America. Drug cartels are feeling greater pressure, Iran is no longer visiting the region with warships and China is desperate to maintain its partnerships in the Americas. These changes are helping to build stronger ties with the U.S., Israel and Taiwan. Trump's 'America First' policy is also a 'Latin America First' policy, creating greater prosperity, security and wellbeing for all. Arturo McFields is an exiled journalist, former Nicaraguan ambassador to the Organization of American States, and a former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps. He is an alumnus of the National Defense University's Security and Defense Seminar and the Harvard Leadership course.
New York Post
24-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Rubio expresses unwavering support for Venezuelan opposition leaders as Maduro jails top political foe
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Venezuelan opposition leaders Friday and expressed strong support for their cause amid South American dictator Nicolas Maduro's latest crackdown on political dissent. 'Honored to meet with the brave Venezuelan opposition leaders who were targets of Maduro's repression and tyranny,' the top US diplomat wrote on X. 'Their courage inspires all working towards more democratic futures, especially following the arbitrary arrest of [Juan Pablo Guanipa] and over 70 individuals. 'The U.S. will not waver in our support for Venezuelans' fighting for democracy and the safe return of all wrongfully detained Americans.' 3 The five Venezuelan opposition figures were rescued in a 'precise operation' earlier this month that brought them to the United States. X/SecRubio Guanipa, a top ally of jailed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, was arrested by the Maduro regime early Friday morning. His arrest comes ahead of regional elections in Venezuela scheduled for Sunday, which the ruling government has accused the opposition of trying to sabotage. 'We are dismantling a terrorist and conspiracy network against our country, the elections, and the peace of our people,' Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on state-run television, announcing Guanipa's arrest and dozens of others, according to the Miami Herald. Anticipating his detainment, Guanipa declared that he may be 'unjustly imprisoned, but never defeated' in a pre-recorded message released by the anti-Maduro camp after his arrest.. 'Brothers and sisters, if you are seeing this, it is because I have been kidnapped by the forces of Nicolas Maduro's regime,' the former first vice president of Venezuela's parliament said. 'For months, I, like many Venezuelans, have been in hiding to maintain my safety.' 'Regrettably, my time in hiding has come to an end. As of today, I am part of the list of Venezuelans kidnapped by the dictatorship.' 3 Maduro's regime made dozens of arrests ahead of Sunday's regional elections. VENEZUELAN TELEVISION (VTV)/AFP via Getty Images 3 Maduro has been clinging to power in Venezuela since 2013. AFP via Getty Images The five opposition figures Rubio met with in Washington were rescued from the authoritarian state earlier this month in a 'precise operation' that brought them to US soil. They had been living in the Argentine ambassador's residence in Venezuela's capital city of Caracas since March 2024 under threat of arrest if they were to leave. 'The Secretary commended these leaders for their bravery in the face of Maduro's relentless repression and tyranny,' State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement. '[Rubio] expressed his gratitude to all involved in this operation and recognized the tenacity of Maria Corina Machado who remains in Venezuela.' The US is among several nations that consider Maduro's leadership of Venezuela illegitimate, citing overwhelming evidence that opposition figure Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia garnered far more votes than the dictator in last year's presidential election.
