A federal court in Washington, DC has dealt a rare rebuke to the Trump administration’s accelerated deportation program, ruling that 137 Venezuelan men removed to El Salvador in March must be brought back to the United States to re-argue their cases. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg found that Immigration and Customs Enforcement relied on the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to justify a group expulsion that offered the men no meaningful opportunity to contest allegations of gang affiliation. That, he said, violated the constitutional guarantee of due process and the Immigration and Nationality Act’s requirement for individualised hearings.
The order gives the Department of Homeland Security two weeks to present a concrete repatriation plan, including coordination with El Salvadoran prison authorities where the men have been held for nine months. Immigration lawyers say the case could set a precedent limiting the government’s growing use of mass-removal authorities that bypass immigration courts. Corporations that rely on Venezuelan talent—particularly in energy, logistics and IT—should watch the outcome closely; if the men ultimately regain status, it may temper future large-scale removals that disrupt workforces.
![US judge orders return of 137 Venezuelans deported to El Salvador]()
Whether your organisation is managing global mobility or you’re an individual traveller, VisaHQ can help you stay ahead of fast-moving U.S. immigration developments like these. Our platform pairs real-time policy alerts with expert guidance on visas, humanitarian parole and employment-based filings, making it easier to gather the right documents and respond quickly when rules shift. Explore the service at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/.
For global-mobility managers, the decision underscores the value of thorough case documentation and legal representation when employees face expedited removal. It also illustrates how litigation can claw back rights even after deportation occurs—a scenario that seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. Companies with Venezuelan assignees or recruits should review contingency plans in case other blanket removal actions are challenged or reversed.
Finally, the ruling adds to mounting judicial push-back against recent enforcement expansions, including record-high detention numbers and new country-based travel restrictions. Observers expect DHS to appeal, but in the meantime the men must be returned—and hundreds of similarly situated migrants may file copy-cat suits, complicating removal operations well into 2026.
The order gives the Department of Homeland Security two weeks to present a concrete repatriation plan, including coordination with El Salvadoran prison authorities where the men have been held for nine months. Immigration lawyers say the case could set a precedent limiting the government’s growing use of mass-removal authorities that bypass immigration courts. Corporations that rely on Venezuelan talent—particularly in energy, logistics and IT—should watch the outcome closely; if the men ultimately regain status, it may temper future large-scale removals that disrupt workforces.
Whether your organisation is managing global mobility or you’re an individual traveller, VisaHQ can help you stay ahead of fast-moving U.S. immigration developments like these. Our platform pairs real-time policy alerts with expert guidance on visas, humanitarian parole and employment-based filings, making it easier to gather the right documents and respond quickly when rules shift. Explore the service at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/.
For global-mobility managers, the decision underscores the value of thorough case documentation and legal representation when employees face expedited removal. It also illustrates how litigation can claw back rights even after deportation occurs—a scenario that seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. Companies with Venezuelan assignees or recruits should review contingency plans in case other blanket removal actions are challenged or reversed.
Finally, the ruling adds to mounting judicial push-back against recent enforcement expansions, including record-high detention numbers and new country-based travel restrictions. Observers expect DHS to appeal, but in the meantime the men must be returned—and hundreds of similarly situated migrants may file copy-cat suits, complicating removal operations well into 2026.
