U.S. Flies 17 Migrants to CECOT Despite Judge Murphy's TRO — Government Whistleblower Alleges Deliberate Violation

On March 31, the United States flew 17 individuals it alleged — without presenting individual evidence — were members of Tren de Aragua and MS-13 on U.S. military aircraft to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison. The deportation occurred despite U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy having issued a temporary restraining order on March 28 barring deportations to third countries without a meaningful opportunity to raise Convention Against Torture claims. Legal analysts concluded the government transferred ICE detainees to Department of Defense custody before the flights, apparently to argue the TRO's named defendant (ICE) was technically not involved. A government whistleblower, DOJ attorney Erez Reuveni, subsequently alleged the deportations were carried out in knowing violation of the court's order and was suspended by DOJ following his disclosure. The incident added to growing federal court concern about executive defiance of judicial orders in immigration cases.