Tue Dec 23 08:20:00 UTC 2025: News Article:

Judge Orders Government to Provide Due Process for Migrants Deported to El Salvador’s Mega-Prison Under Controversial Law

Washington D.C. – A federal judge has ordered the U.S. government to provide due process for over 200 migrants who were deported to El Salvador’s CECOT mega-prison in March under the controversial Alien Enemies Act (AEA). U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued the order on Monday, requiring the government to submit plans by January 5th to either return the migrants to the U.S. or provide them with hearings to contest their designation as members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

The Trump administration invoked the AEA, an 18th-century wartime law, to deport the migrants, arguing that Tren de Aragua constituted an invading force, allowing for their removal with limited due process. The migrants were subsequently transferred to Venezuela in a prisoner swap in July.

Judge Boasberg previously sought contempt proceedings against the government for defying an initial order to halt the deportations, though a federal appeals court temporarily blocked those proceedings. In his latest ruling, Boasberg stated that the U.S. government maintained “constructive custody” of the migrants while they were imprisoned at CECOT and that their due process rights were violated. He sided with attorneys who argued that El Salvador imprisoned the men partly at the behest of the United States in exchange for millions of dollars.

“By granting the Motion, this Court is declaring that Plaintiffs should not have been removed in the manner that they were, with virtually no notice and no opportunity to contest the bases of their removal, in clear contravention of their due-process rights,” Boasberg wrote in his order.

ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt, who is leading the legal challenge, praised the ruling. “The men endured immeasurable abuse but will now finally get the due process the Trump administration indisputably denied them,” Gelernt said.

Jerce Reyes Barrios, a professional soccer player and youth coach who was deported to CECOT, expressed shock at the news. Reyes Barrios stated the trauma he experienced during his imprisonment continues to affect him, making him hesitant to return to the U.S. at this time. His attorney claims that Barrios was falsely accused, in part due to tattoos that were misinterpreted.

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