The White House has invoked the Alien Enemies Act and alleged that those who were removed were linked to a gang, a claim their families strongly reject.

Venezuela’s leader has described the deportation of more than 200 migrants sent by the United States to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador as a “kidnapping,” and denied they are criminals while backing calls for their return.

"I strongly, strongly fear that they're already being tortured, being mistreated, being screamed at, being forced to perform forced labor, being poorly fed or underfed," said Adam Isacson, director of defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America.