A federal court on Sunday blocked the Trump administration from transferring three Venezuelan immigrants held in New Mexico to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, a move tied to the president’s ongoing immigration crackdown.
In a legal filing earlier in the day, attorneys representing the men argued that the detainees “fit the profile” of those targeted for detention in Guantanamo—Venezuelan nationals detained in the El Paso region and falsely accused of ties to the Tren de Aragua gang.
The motion, filed in U.S. District Court in New Mexico, sought a temporary restraining order, citing concerns over the lack of legal process and counsel access for detainees.
During a brief hearing, Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales granted the order, temporarily preventing the transfer. Jessica Vosburgh, an attorney for the three men, said the decision provides a short-term solution while the case is further examined.
“It’s short-term. This will get revisited and further fleshed out in the weeks to come,” Vosburgh told The Associated Press.
A request for comment from U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement was not immediately returned.
The lawsuit was filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, and Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center on behalf of the detained migrants.
The Tren de Aragua, a criminal network that originated in Venezuela’s prison system, has expanded across Latin America in recent years. Millions of Venezuelans fleeing President Nicolás Maduro’s government have migrated to other countries, including the United States.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed last week that detainee flights to Guantanamo Bay had occurred. Immigrant rights organizations sent a letter Friday urging access to detainees and opposing the use of the base as a “legal black hole.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Wednesday that over 8,000 people have been arrested in immigration enforcement operations since Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration. The president has pledged to deport millions of undocumented immigrants currently in the United States.
