White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized a federal judge's attempt to halt the Trump administration's recent deportation flights. (@nayibbukele via X | Getty Images)
"The order, which had no lawful basis, was issued after terrorist [Tren de Aragua] aliens had already been removed from U.S. territory," Leavitt said. "The written order and the Administration’s actions do not conflict."
"Moreover, as the Supreme Court has repeatedly made clear – federal courts generally have no jurisdiction over the President’s conduct of foreign affairs, his authorities under the Alien Enemies Act, and his core Article II powers to remove foreign alien terrorists from U.S. soil and repel a declared invasion," Leavitt added. "A single judge in a single city cannot direct the movements of an aircraft carrier full of foreign alien terrorists who were physically expelled from U.S. soil."
RUBIO HEADS TO PANAMA, LATIN AMERICA TO PURSUE TRUMP'S 'GOLDEN AGE' AGENDA
Salvadorean president Nayib Bukele posted dramatic video showing hundreds of alleged criminal migrants arriving in Central America. (@nayibbukele via X)
On Sunday, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele responded to Boasberg's order by joking, "Oopsie… too late," in an X post. He also shared footage of heavily-armed Salvadorean authorities escorting the alleged gang members off the planes, shaving their heads and rounding them up in their prison cells.
A total of 261 illegal aliens were deported from the U.S. to El Salvador yesterday – 137 of which were through the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, 101 others were Venezuelans removed via Title 8 and another 21 were Salvadoran MS-13 gang members. Two others were MS-13 ringleaders and "special cases" for El Salvador.
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El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and President Donald Trump worked together on the deportation flights. (Getty Images)
A senior Trump administration official confirmed the numbers to Fox News on Sunday, explaining that the migrants' alleged crimes included kidnapping, sexual abuse of a child, aggravated assault, prostitution, robbery and aggravated assault of a police officer.
Fox News Digital's Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Andrea Margolis is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Readers can follow her on X at @andreamargs or send story tips to andrea.margolis@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/white-house-blasts-judge-attempting-halt-deportation-flights-el-salvador-no-lawful-basis