Under the Trump administration, mass deportations have been a significant focus, marked by controversial actions such as deportations to El Salvador's mega prison, an increase in immigration arrests, and plans to repurpose Guantanamo Bay for migrant detention. The US Supreme Court's recent emergency order to halt further deportations of Venezuelans underscores the contentious nature of these policies.

On March 15, the Trump administration deported over 130 alleged Venezuelan gang members to the CECOT supermax prison in El Salvador. However, lawyers and family members of the deported individuals argue that many were not actually gang members and were denied the opportunity to contest the government's claims. A similar case involves Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadorian citizen residing in Maryland, who the Justice Department admits was mistakenly deported despite not being charged with any crimes. The government alleges his involvement with the MS-13 gang, a claim his lawyers dispute. Despite a judge's order for his return, the Trump administration asserts it lacks jurisdiction, leaving the decision to El Salvador.

The Trump administration has invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport immigrants identified as criminals, irrespective of their immigration status. This act, previously used during World War II to intern Japanese-American civilians, was recently employed to deport Venezuelan immigrants accused of gang membership. However, the Supreme Court ruled that such deportations require a court hearing to ensure due process. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has raised concerns that migrants are not being afforded the opportunity to challenge these orders, leading to the Supreme Court's intervention to temporarily block the removal of Venezuelan migrants from northern Texas.

The Trump administration has established agreements with countries like El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama to accept migrants, particularly as some countries, including Venezuela, do not accept deportations from the United States. Human rights lawyers are suing Costa Rica for allegedly violating the rights of migrant children, some as young as two, who were detained in a rural camp after being deported from America. Similar legal action has been taken against Panama, where migrants were held in hotels and remote camps and allegedly stripped of their phones.

Data indicates that unauthorized crossings at the southern border have decreased under the Trump administration, while Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportations have doubled, and detention numbers have reached record highs. However, NBC News reports that deportations during Trump's first full month in office were slightly behind those under Joe Biden during the same period the previous year.

In a related development, the US Supreme Court intervened to halt the Trump administration's deportation of Venezuelans from Texas, utilizing the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. This decision came as some migrants were already en route to the airport for deportation. The ACLU filed urgent requests in multiple courts, including the Supreme Court, leading to the ruling that individuals facing deportation under the AEA must have the chance to legally challenge their removal. The ACLU highlighted that Venezuelans held at the Bluebonnet Detention Center in Texas were told they would be imminently removed under the AEA.

The Trump administration's actions have faced legal challenges, including instances where court orders were disregarded, raising concerns about a potential constitutional crisis regarding the balance of power between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Trump has defended these actions, stating that his executive power allows him leeway in applying immigration laws and that he was elected to remove "bad people."