Kristi Noem Rerouted Venezuelan Migrants to El Salvador After Federal Deportation Order Halted Flights, DOJ Reveals

Nov 26, 2025 United States United States Politics & Immigration
Kristi Noem Rerouted Venezuelan Migrants to El Salvador After Federal Deportation Order Halted Flights, DOJ Reveals

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem reportedly directed Venezuelan migrants to be flown to El Salvador, bypassing a federal judge's order to halt deportation flig

Kristi Noem Allegedly Rerouted Venezuelan Migrants to El Salvador After Federal Deportation Halt

Reports from the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicate that South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem made a controversial decision regarding Venezuelan migrants. She is alleged to have directed their transportation to El Salvador, seemingly bypassing a direct order from a federal judge that had mandated the reversal of deportation flights.

Judicial Order and Alleged Circumvention

The controversy stems from a federal judge's ruling, which specifically ordered that planes carrying Venezuelan deportees be turned around. This judicial intervention was presumably in response to legal or humanitarian considerations, aiming to temporarily halt their removal from the United States.

However, instead of adhering to the federal court's directive, Governor Noem's office is accused of implementing an alternative strategy: sending these individuals to El Salvador. This action raises serious questions about the extent of state executive power in federal immigration matters and the potential for direct conflict with judicial authority.

DOJ Involvement and Broader Implications

The Department of Justice's revelation of this alleged directive suggests a close examination of Governor Noem's actions. Such a move, if proven, could be seen as a challenge to federal judicial supremacy and might prompt further legal scrutiny.

The incident highlights the complex and often contentious intersection of state leadership, federal immigration policy, and the judiciary's role in safeguarding legal processes. The ultimate ramifications for immigration protocols, intergovernmental relations, and the rights of migrants remain to be seen as more details emerge from the DOJ's inquiry.

By news 8 hours ago