A U.S. federal judge has ordered the Venezuelan men that the Trump administration deported to El Salvador early last year be returned to the United States, stating that they did not receive due process in some cases.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued the order to bring back 137 Venezuelans on Thursday, citing as precedent the well-documented return of Kilmar Abrego-Gargia from El Salvador’s CECOT prison to the U.S.
The order comes after a hearing on Monday when Boasberg hinted he would issue the order. Department of Justice lawyers at the time said they would prefer the Venezuelans return to the U.S. rather than try to do remote hearings from El Salvador, Venezuela or other locations outside the U.S.
Boasberg’s order also asked that the government submit a status report by March 13th.
The high-profile case involves the U.S. deportation of 252 suspected Venezuelan nationals, who were also suspected Tren de Aragua gang members, to CECOT prison in El Salvador early last year.
DOJ lawyers, who have appealed nearly every decision Boasberg has made in this case so far, can appeal the latest order.
This is a breaking news story; check back for updates.
Fox News’ Jake Gibson contributed to this report.
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