A federal judge said during a hearing on May 7 that he would ask the government to provide more information about the terms of its deal with El Salvador’s government under which dozens of Venezuelan nationals deported from the United States are being held in a mega-prison.
District Judge James E. Boasberg also questioned whether President Donald Trump was being truthful when he said last month that he could secure the return of a deported man by calling El Salvador’s president.
Boasberg said he needed additional information to determine whether the U.S. government has what’s called “constructive custody” of the roughly 140 men who were deported to El Salvador in March under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, meaning it could return them if he ordered it….