U.S. removes hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members under now-blocked authority

WASHINGTON - The United States has removed hundreds of alleged members of the Venezuelan pack Tren de Aragua utilizing now-blocked authorization from the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said connected Sunday.

"Hundreds of convulsive criminals were sent retired of our country," Rubio said successful a statement.

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said successful a station connected X that 238 alleged members of the Venezuelan pack had arrived successful his state and were instantly transferred to a "Terrorism Confinement Center" for a one-year play that could beryllium renewed.

Bukele said the U.S. had besides sent 23 members of the Salvadoran pack MS-13, including 2 high-ranking members.

President Donald Trump connected Friday invoked the wartime Alien Enemies Act to rapidly deport alleged members of Tren de Aragua, a transgression enactment that has been linked to kidnapping, extortion, organized transgression and declaration killings.

A national justice connected Saturday blocked the exertion of the instrumentality for 14 days, saying the statute refers to "hostile acts" perpetrated by different state that are "commensurate to war."

(Reporting by Ted Hesson and David Ljunggren; Editing by Louise Heavens and Bernadette Baum)