Following a legal battle concerning the placement of three Venezuelan migrants, the Trump administration has deported them back to Venezuela. This action comes after a New Mexico judge halted the administration's attempt to transfer the individuals to Guantanamo Bay.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales had initially scheduled a status conference regarding the migrants' case, but this was canceled after they were deported on February 10, 2025. The administration's move to deport the migrants circumvents the judge's prior ruling against transferring them to the detention facility in Cuba.
The Trump administration's immigration policy has focused on deporting individuals deemed to be living in the U.S. illegally, with some slated for transfer to Guantanamo Bay. The administration has characterized these individuals as "highly dangerous criminal aliens," a claim contested by immigration advocates.
Lawyers representing the Venezuelan migrants argued that their clients were being targeted based on their nationality and alleged, unsubstantiated connections to criminal gangs. They asserted that the administration was prioritizing Venezuelan men detained in the El Paso region for transfer to Guantanamo.
Judge Gonzales's initial ruling temporarily prevented the transfer of the migrants to Guantanamo. The administration's subsequent decision to deport them preempted further legal proceedings. This deportation occurred shortly after the enactment of the Laken Riley Act, legislation expanding authorities' power to deport individuals accused of crimes.
The administration has stated that thousands of arrests have been made in immigration enforcement actions since President Trump took office.
