SAN SALVADOR: The US government used an 18th-century wartime law to deport more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador, where they were immediately transferred to the country’s maximum-security gang prison.
And while a federal judge in Washington tries to determine whether the US government defied his order to return the migrants while they were in the air and insists that they must get an opportunity to challenge their designations as alleged members of a notorious gang, there has been no word from El Salvador’s president or judiciary about what the prisoners’ legal status is in that country.
That may change soon. On Monday, lawyers hired by the Venezuelan government took legal action on behalf of the Venezuelan prisoners seeking their release from the prison, which US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is scheduled to visit Wednesday.
The US says the Venezuelans were members of the Tren de Aragua gang, a criminal organization that US President Donald Trump declared an invading force, but has provided no evidence of their alleged membership. The Alien Enemies Act allows noncitizens to be deported without the opportunity to go before an immigration or federal court judge.
El Salvador hasn’t had diplomatic relations with Venezuela since 2019, so the Venezuelans imprisoned there do not have any consular support from their government either.
Even Salvadoran citizens have been living under a state of emergency that has suspended fundamental rights since 2022 and the country’s judiciary is not considered independent. All of which raises questions about the prisoners’ legal future in El Salvador.
What has El Salvador’s government said about the prisoners’ status in the country?
Nothing.
President Nayib Bukele announced Sunday that the United States had sent what he called “238 members of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua” to El Salvador and they were immediately sent to its maximum security gang prison. The US government would pay an annual fee for their incarceration, Bukele wrote in a post on X.
El Salvador’s Attorney General’s Office and Presidential Commissioner for Human Rights and Freedom of Expression did not respond to requests for comment about the status of the Venezuelan prisoners.
What do El Salvador’s laws say about the status of these prisoners?
Lawyer David Morales, legal director for the nongovernmental organization Cristosal, said there was no legal basis for the Venezuelans’ imprisonment in El Salvador. He said he knew of no Salvadoran law or international treaty that would support their imprisonment.
“They are illegal detentions because they haven’t been submitted to the jurisdiction of a Salvadoran judge, nor have they been prosecuted or convicted in El Salvador,” he said. As such, their imprisonment here is “arbitrary.”
He said El Salvador’s prosecutor’s office for human rights would have the authority to intervene, because it has a broad mandate when it comes to prisoners, “but we already know that it’s not playing its role because it is dominated, subjected to political power.”
What are lawyers doing?
Lawyers hired by the Venezuelan government filed a legal action Monday in El Salvador aimed at freeing 238 Venezuelans deported by the United States who are being held in a Salvadoran maximum-security prison.
Jaime Ortega, who says he represents 30 of the imprisoned Venezuelans, said his firm filed the habeas corpus petition with the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Chamber. He said that by extension they requested that it be applied to all Venezuelans detained in El Salvador.
Before it was filed, constitutional lawyer Enrique Anaya had suggested human rights organizations and the prisoners’ families should file habeas corpus petitions, essentially compelling the government to prove someone’s detention was justified “as a mechanism to denounce (the situation) as well as to pressure” the government.
Still, Anaya said the lack of judicial independence in El Salvador made success unlikely. Bukele’s party removed the justices of the Supreme Court’s Constitutional chamber in 2021 and replaced them with judges seen as more amenable to the administration.
“Who is going to decide these people’s freedom, US judges, Salvadoran judges?” Anaya asked. The habeas corpus petitions could at least “show the illegitimacy of this vacuum.”
How hard is it for Salvadorans to get out of prisons there?
El Salvador has lived under a state of emergency since March 2022, when Congress granted Bukele extraordinary powers to fight the country’s powerful street gangs.
Since then, some 84,000 people have been arrested, accused of gang ties. The state of emergency has allowed authorities to act without basic protections like access to a lawyer or even being told why they’re being arrested. They can be held for 15 days without seeing a judge.
Homicides have plummeted in El Salvador and the improved security has fueled Bukele’s popularity.
But while Bukele has said some 8,000 of those arrested have been freed for lack of evidence, many more have found no way out.
Last year, the Due Process Foundation published a report showing that the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court had “systematically” rejected more than 6,000 habeas corpus petitions made by families of people arrested under the state of emergency.
Venezuelan migrants deported by the US ended up in a Salvadoran prison. This is their legal status
https://arab.news/4jgdd
Venezuelan migrants deported by the US ended up in a Salvadoran prison. This is their legal status
- El Salvador hasn’t had diplomatic relations with Venezuela since 2019
- So the Venezuelans imprisoned there do not have any consular support from their government either
Austria to stop refugee family reunification in EU first: govt
Syrians make up the bulk of family reunifications
VIENNA: Austria announced on Wednesday that it would pause family reunifications for those with asylum status from May, becoming the first in the European Union to do so.
Several EU countries are mulling stopping or tightening the right for people, who cannot safely return to their home countries, to bring their families, but so far no bloc member has a complete halt in place.
Austria has already halted family reunification for Syrians since the ouster of Syria’s leader Bashar Assad last December, arguing it has to reassess the situation and threatening their deportation.
Syrians make up the bulk of family reunifications, but a newly formed conservative-led government — under pressure with anti-immigration sentiment high — has insisted that it needs to stop all.
Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm said the government would make a legal change to allow the interior ministry to issue a decree to halt family reunification.
“By May, so in just a few weeks, the stop is expected to become reality,” Plakolm of the conservative People’s Party (OeVP) told reporters.
“On one hand, our systems have reached their limits and, on the other hand, the probability of successful integration decreases massively with each new arrival,” she added.
The pause is for six months but can be extended until May 2027, she said, adding it was a “mammoth task” to integrate those who have arrived, many of whom struggle to learn German and find jobs.
In 2023, almost 9,300 people arrived due to family reunification; last year it was almost 7,800 people, according to government figures.
Most of them were school-aged minors, placing a burden on schools, the government said.
Rights organizations have criticized the government’s plans in the country of nine million, with one of the main asylum support groups saying they would challenge the decree once issued in court.
“There must be an emergency (to allow the government to pause family reunification), which in Austria is not the case,” Asylkoordination Oesterreich spokesman Lukas Gahleitner told AFP.
The anti-immigration far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) topped parliamentary elections for the first time ever last November, gaining almost a third of the votes.
It failed to form government, with the election runner-up long-ruling OeVP cobbling together a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPOe) and the liberal NEOs.
War ignited record-breaking wildfires in Ukraine last year, scientists say
- Satellite data showed nearly 9,000 fires torched a total of 965,000 hectares in Ukraine in 2024
- Ukraine has around 10 million hectares, or 100,000 sq km of forest
BRUSSELS: Last year was Ukraine’s worst year for wildfires in more than three decades of record-keeping, as shelling along front lines in the war with Russia triggered an unprecedented number of blazes, scientists said.
Forest fires in Ukraine in 2024 burnt more than twice the area destroyed by fire in the entire 27-country European Union in 2024, the EU’s Joint Research Center — its independent science research service — said in a report published this week.
Satellite data showed nearly 9,000 fires torched a total of 965,000 hectares in Ukraine in 2024. Ukraine has around 10 million hectares, or 100,000 sq km (38,610 sq miles), of forest. Around a third of the area burned last year was farmland.
For comparison, the EU member state with the most land burnt last year was Portugal, which lost 147,000 hectares — its worst annual total since 2017.
The JRC said satellite data showed the fires were concentrated in Ukraine’s east, in areas apparently in close proximity to front lines of the war.
Ukrainian forests have incurred severe damage as both Russian and Ukrainian armed forces blast thousands of shells at each other every day, shredding the earth.
Maksym Matsala, a forest researcher at Sweden’s University of Agricultural Sciences, said the main cause was artillery and falling shells igniting fires.
He said the jump in fires last year was partly because of a large build-up of dead and damaged trees since Russia’s invasion in 2022, which had created plentiful fuel for fires during extremely dry weather in 2024.
“If war is continuous, then sooner or later there will be a lot of inaccessible areas and a lot of areas with accumulating dead wood,” Matsala told Reuters.
Ukraine’s forests are also riddled with land mines and unexploded ordnance that can detonate during fires — making it impossible for firefighters to control the flames.
The EU data only goes back to 2020, but when cross-checked with data from researchers at Ukraine’s National University of Life and Environmental Sciences, 2024 was the worst year for forest fires in Ukraine since at least 1990.
Climate change is exacerbating wildfires by increasing the hot and dry conditions that help them spread faster, burn longer and rage more intensely, scientists say. Hotter weather saps moisture from vegetation, turning it into dry fuel.
Ukraine’s fires mostly occurred during summer, when this kind of fire-prone weather is more frequent.
Ethiopia to name new head of Tigray interim administration: PM
- The region still suffers from the aftermath of a brutal two-year conflict, ended by a 2022 peace deal in Pretoria that established the interim administration
- Although the guns have fallen silent, a failure to fully implement the terms of the Pretoria agreement has fuelled divisions within the Tigrayan political elite
ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia said Wednesday it will appoint a new head of the interim administration in northern Tigray region, where months of tensions between rival factions have threatened a fragile peace agreement.
The region still suffers from the aftermath of a brutal two-year conflict, ended by a 2022 peace deal in Pretoria that established the interim administration.
The war was one of the deadliest in recent decades, claiming roughly 600,000 lives and pitting Tigrayan rebels against federal forces, supported by local militias and the Eritrean army.
"The federal government, taking into account the realities on the ground, is taking action... in order to extend the mandate of the interim government" by one year, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed posted on X, adding that the administration had been "unable to complete its essential tasks within the given timeframe".
Writing in Tigrinya, he said it had "become necessary to appoint a new head of the interim administration" in Tigray to replace Getachew Reda, but did not specify a timetable for replacing him.
Getachew did not respond to AFP's request for comment.
The current tensions in Tigray stem from an internal power struggle between Getachew and Debretsion Gebremichael, head of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
"If the transition is well managed, it is an opportunity to emerge from the crisis we are in," Wondimu Asamnew, a close associate of Debretsion, told AFP.
"The two years of Getachew Reda's governance have been symbolised by crises and clashes, we now need a stable government," he added.
Although the guns have fallen silent, a failure to fully implement the terms of the Pretoria agreement has fuelled divisions within the Tigrayan political elite.
Armed supporters of Debretsion took over the municipality in Adigrat, Tigray's second-largest town near the Eritrean border, this month, ousting the mayor appointed by Getachew.
Debretsion's faction seized control of Mekele's town hall to reinstate its chosen mayor, as well as the local radio station.
Kjetil Tronvoll, a Horn of Africa specialist and professor at Oslo New University College, said he was unsurprised by the changes.
Getachew's faction "had gradually lost control" over the administration, he said, noting that "his powerbase had waned".
"Abiy Ahmed has been closely observing the evolution of the power struggle," he told AFP.
With the initial mandate of the interim administration expiring, "it was opportune for the federal government to let Getachew go", he added.
The African Union, whose headquarters are in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, has expressed "deep concern" over renewed tensions in the region.
Similarly, the United States, Britain and the European Union also urged all stakeholders to "de-escalate and engage in urgent dialogue".
Bangladesh’s Yunus heads to China for first state visit
- Yunus to seek investment in healthcare and dedicated Chinese Economic Zone
- Visit comes amid strained relations with another regional superpower, India
Dhaka: The head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Muhammad Yunus, departed on Wednesday for China, where he will meet President Xi Jinping and also mark his first bilateral state visit since assuming the role of chief adviser, his office said.
Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and economics professor, will address the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan, southern China — an annual conference focusing on the changing role of Asia — from where he will travel to Beijing.
His bilateral with Xi is scheduled for Friday, marking their first meeting since Yunus assumed office in August 2024.
“The main focus of this visit is to boost economic cooperation … We are expecting that a number of (memoranda of understanding) will be inked during this visit. The MoUs will cover mostly the areas of economic cooperation,” Azad Majumder, Yunus’ deputy press secretary, told Arab News.
“One of the main focuses of discussion will be bringing more investments from China in our dedicated Chinese Economic Zone.”
Munshi Faiz Ahmad, Dhaka’s former envoy to Beijing, said it was significant that Yunus was choosing China for his first state visit, especially as relations with another regional superpower, India, have soured since the change in government.
India was a close ally of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. She has also sought refuge in New Delhi after deadly protests that unseated her last year. Until now, India has not responded to Bangladesh’s request to send her home for trial.
The situation opens the door for China — India’s key rival — to expand its footprint.
“For our interim government, this China visit is very significant. It’s the first bilateral visit to any country by Prof. Yunus as the chief adviser,” Ahmad said.
“It’s an opportunity for Bangladesh to boost the relationship with China and explore new areas of cooperation …. It’s an issue of mutual benefit for Bangladesh and China.”
Yunus’ office said he will also seek Chinese investment in healthcare and the establishment of a large hospital in Bangladesh to reduce the trend of medical tourism abroad.
Many Bangladeshis have sought treatment in neighboring India, but it has lately become difficult to obtain Indian visas.
“It has been reported that China is interested in providing a grant of $138 million for building medical facilities. If that proposal moves forward, it will be a good thing. There is a ready opportunity for China, as India is not issuing enough visas for Bangladeshis now. A lion’s share of our medical tourism can be shifted to China,” Humayun Kabir, former Bangladeshi ambassador to the US, told Arab News.
“There are opportunities to attract more investments from China. Our government is very eager in this regard. We have dedicated an economic zone for Chinese investors … Secondly, we are in need of budget support at this moment. If China provides some financial assistance, it would be of great help. Our previous regime also sought this support, but it didn’t materialize.”
Indonesia braces for annual Eid exodus as 146 million travel home
- More than 33 million people are traveling by private car, with peak traffic expected on Friday
- Over 164,000 transportation, security personnel have been deployed to oversee their safety
Jakarta: Indonesian authorities are bracing for the annual homecoming rush, as 146 million people — more than half the population — head to their hometowns for the Eid Al-Fitr holidays.
Locally known as “mudik,” the Eid exodus is one of the world’s greatest seasonal migrations, with travelers braving enormous traffic jams, thousands of kilometers and exhaustion to make it home for the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.
“Our preparations for mudik are final, we are always working to improve our synergy across different departments, and we have come up with the best plans. Now it’s time to monitor the implementation,” Pratikno, coordinating minister for human development and cultural affairs, said at a press conference on Wednesday.
About 33 million people are expected to use private cars this year, according to a survey conducted by the transportation ministry. Nearly 25 million people will be using buses, while over 23 million others are traveling by trains.
More than 164,000 transportation and security personnel are being deployed across 2,835 locations in Indonesia to oversee the safety of the travelers.
Authorities are expecting the exodus to peak on Friday, when around 12 million people will hit the road at the last minute to reach their hometowns for the first day of Eid.
“We’ve received reports that the number of travelers is increasing, now six days before Eid, and especially on highways, there is already a 7 percent increase,” National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo said.
Mudik is often associated with hours of traffic jams, especially on the main island of Java, where the top four mudik destinations are located: Central Java, East Java, West Java and Yogyakarta.
“We are advising travelers to make the most use of incentives from the government, especially those who are traveling back to their hometowns … so that they can travel ahead and help scatter the flow of traffic,” Prabowo said.
The incentives include discounted prices for highway fees and various modes of transportation for early travelers, as well as free travel programs from regional governments.
Authorities have also prepared military helicopters and ambulances to help evacuate the wounded in case of traffic incidents.
“Besides our officers, the military will also deploy nine Hercules military planes,” Indonesian Military Chief Agus Subiyanto said. “Should it be needed, we have prepared helicopters and ambulances, as well as excavators, fire trucks and tow trucks.”
Each year, hundreds of people die on the road during the Eid exodus. More than 4,500 accidents were recorded last year, claiming the lives of at least 507 people.
Heightened security measures along Indonesia’s main roads will be in place until the end of the long holiday on April 8.
