A plane carrying American immigrants, suspected members of a Venezuelan gang, touched down in El Salvador under Trump’s command despite the judge’s ruling.

The order passed by Trump’s administration required 238 supposed criminals – American immigrants – to be transferred to what is known as the “world’s worst prison” in El Salvador.

A federal judge ruled against the order, but at the time the plane carrying the alleged gang members was already in international airspace, thus Trump’s administration claimed they didn’t break any laws.

Trump’s order has been based on an 18th century law – which was intended for wartime and targeted Venezuelan gang members – with the government claiming the country is facing an “invasion” of criminal organizations linked to kidnappings, killings, and other crimes.

US is expected to pay the government of President Nayib Bukele $6 million for one year of services.

The infamous prison where the members of the Tren de Aragua gang were deported – the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT – was built in 2023 when president Bukele announced the war against organized crime.

Bukele himself announced the arrival of the American immigrants transferred to El Salvador from America. He posted photos of them handcuffed, writing that the “first 238 members of the Venezuelan criminal organisation” had landed and that “the United States will pay a very low fee for them, but a high one for us.”

“As always, we continue advancing in the fight against organized crime. But this time, we are also helping our allies, making our prison system self-sustainable, and obtaining vital intelligence to make our country an even safer place. All in a single action,” he wrote on X.