US Justice Department Requests One-Week Delay in Returning Venezuelan Deportees Following Maduro Arrest

The Justice Department has requested a one-week delay in returning a group of Venezuelan nationals who were deported under the Alien Enemies Act, arguing that rapidly evolving conditions in Venezuela make immediate compliance with a court order impractical.

The request comes as the Trump administration faces a Monday deadline set by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg. Last month, Judge Boasberg ordered the government to either facilitate the return of the Venezuelans to the United States or provide them with hearings that satisfy constitutional due process requirements.

The individuals in question were deported to El Salvador’s high-security “megaprison” in March 2025 after U.S. officials alleged they had ties to the violent Tren de Aragua gang. They were later transferred to Venezuela as part of a prisoner exchange.

In a filing submitted late Sunday, the Department of Justice cited what it described as “substantial changes” in Venezuela following a U.S. military operation over the weekend that resulted in the arrest of longtime socialist strongman Nicolás Maduro. The document states: “Over the weekend, the United States apprehended Nicolas Maduro.” The department said it needs additional time to assess whether returning the deportees to the U.S. is feasible or whether alternative remedies are available.

The DOJ characterized the request as necessary to “evaluate and determine what remedies are possible” under the new circumstances and formally asked for a seven-day extension.

This case is part of a broader legal battle over the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to remove foreign nationals accused of gang activity and national security threats. In recent rulings, Judge Boasberg has stated that the government failed to provide adequate due process protections to certain Venezuelan deportees, ordering either their return or constitutionally sufficient legal hearings.

The dispute is tied to J.G.G. v. Trump, a closely watched case in which courts found that some deported Venezuelans were removed without sufficient opportunity to challenge their detention or alleged gang ties, raising habeas corpus concerns. Administration officials have argued the deportations were necessary to protect public safety and disrupt transnational criminal networks, particularly Tren de Aragua, which has been linked to violent crime across the Western Hemisphere.