Overview
- U.S. District Judge James Boasberg directed officials to provide boarding letters and pay airfare for any of the 137 designated Venezuelans who left Venezuela and wish to return for proceedings.
- The order stems from Boasberg’s prior finding that the men were denied due process when deported under the Alien Enemies Act to El Salvador’s CECOT prison last March.
- Relief is limited for now to deportees outside Venezuela, citing foreign‑affairs concerns, though all may file habeas petitions from abroad to challenge the statute’s use or gang designations.
- Any returnees will be taken into immigration custody upon arrival as their cases proceed, with the government required to outline logistics and timing in a report due March 13.
- Boasberg cited the Supreme Court’s Abrego precedent and noted earlier government defiance of his turn‑back instructions, as the administration signals it may appeal this latest order.