Judge Orders Trump Administration to Allow Venezuelan Migrants to Return to U.S.

Wed Apr 15 2026 16:09:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration must facilitate the return of Venezuelan migrants detained in El Salvador, emphasizing the need for due process.

In a recent ruling, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg mandated that the Trump administration must provide a means for Venezuelan migrants, previously deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador, to return to the U.S. at government expense. The judge criticized the government's disregard for previous court orders and highlighted the importance of due process in immigration matters.

A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to facilitate the return of some Venezuelan migrants deported to a prison in El Salvador, stating that arrangements must be made at the government's expense.

This case has emerged as a critical point in legal discussions surrounding the administration's immigration policies, initiated when President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants accused of gang affiliations to the Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT.

In the ruling, Judge Boasberg expressed discontent with the government's response to his previous orders regarding the chance for these individuals to \u201cchallenge their removals\u201d, stating that the government's lack of compliance suggested an unwillingness to engage with the judicial process.

Following a recent court hearing, attorney Lee Gelernt indicated that some of the detainees had temporarily escaped to third countries and showed interest in clearing their names and returning.

Judge Boasberg decreed that the U.S. government must issue boarding letters and cover airfare for those wishing to return, although these men will be detained upon arrival. The judge's order allows them to contest the legality of their deportation and the initial presidential proclamation, which they argue was improperly invoked.

The tensions between judicial and executive branches remain palpable, especially given the administration's earlier defiance of a court order regarding the flights of these migrants to El Salvador, which initiated a contempt investigation by the judge. While an appeals court has put a pause on this dramatic standoff, the administration denies any violations of the order.

On Thursday, Gelernt remarked on the significance of Boasberg's decision, asserting it was a crucial step in reinstating the migrants' rights to challenge their unjust removal.