Federal judge directs Trump administration to allow attorneys access to migrant in El Salvador

A federal judge in Texas on Monday ordered the Trump administration to arrange for a Venezuelan migrant being held in El Salvador to have access to his attorneys by Wednesday afternoon.

The order comes as the administration faces legal scrutiny over its use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport hundreds of migrants to a maximum-security prison in another country. President Donald Trump invoked the act in order to deport suspected members of the violent gangs MS-13 and Tren de Aragua.

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison gave the Trump administration 48 hours to facilitate the meetings between Widmer Josneyder Agelviz Sanguino and his attorneys, including 24 hours to confirm Agelviz Sanguino's location.

“This shows that the court is as concerned as we are as to the whereabouts of this individual and the illegal justification for his continued detention,” Javier Rivera, the Houston lawyer representing Agelviz Sanguino, told NBC News.

Agelviz Sanguino, who was among the men suddenly deported by the Trump administration, was arrested on suspicion of being a member of Tren de Aragua because of a tattoo on his arm. He initially traveled to the U.S. last year with his mother and two siblings as part of the Biden administration's resettlement program. 

A White House official told NBC News that a Department of Homeland Security assessment goes on more than just the tattoo, but did not provide additional details. 

The migrant's family has insisted the 24-year-old is not a gang member, and has no criminal background. The tattoos, his mother insisted, are references to his childhood and are not gang-affiliated.

The Trump administration is expected to appeal the decision.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.