# US president Donald Trump’s administration has defended its decision to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport 238 mostly Venezuelan alleged gang members to a prison in El Salvador. This is despite a federal judge temporarily blocking the administration’s ability to use the Act to justify the deportations. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says the administration did not violate the judge’s order because it was issued after the migrants in question had left the US. She added that the order had no lawful basis.
Trump administration defends the deportation of over 200 Venezuelans, despite court order