President Trump's use of wartime powers to deport over 200 alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador has sparked controversy and legal challenges, with concerns over the due process being allegedly circumvented. El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele supported the deportation but sought assurances that the individuals were indeed gang-affiliated, highlighting tensions over who constituted a 'convicted criminal.' The Trump administration leveraged the Alien Enemies Act, historically used in wartime, to expedite deportations, though its application in this context has been questioned. Despite a temporary court block, the administration proceeded with deportations, anticipating a Supreme Court decision favoring its approach. Financially, the U.S. compensated El Salvador millions to house these deportees, with potential further payments under scrutiny by lawmakers seeking transparency.

President Trump's administration deported over 200 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador using the Alien Enemies Act, a law historically invoked during wartime, to bypass standard immigration due process, leading to legal challenges.

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, while publicly supporting the deportation, privately demanded proof that the deported individuals were gang members, specifically from the Tren de Aragua gang, raising concerns about the accuracy and legitimacy of the deportation criteria.

In exchange for housing the deportees, Bukele requested the return of Salvadoran MS-13 leaders detained in the U.S., a move that raised suspicions given past allegations of Bukele's government making deals with MS-13 to reduce violence in El Salvador.

The Alien Enemies Act, identified by Trump advisers as a tool for immigration enforcement, allows for the rapid expulsion of individuals without typical legal proceedings, a strategy that has now brought the issue before the Supreme Court for judicial review.

Despite a court order to halt deportations, the administration proceeded, confident of eventual Supreme Court support, with flights continuing under the belief they were legally secure while in international airspace.

Financially, the U.S. has paid El Salvador millions for imprisoning the deportees, with initial reports of $6 million revised to under $5 million, and potential costs rising to $15 million, prompting calls from lawmakers for more clarity and details on the expenditure.