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Spokesperson declines to confirm legal authority for reported deportations; visa-review report deadline unset
Summary
The State Department spokesperson declined to say whether the Alien Enemies Act was used to deport 17 alleged gang members, directed legal questions to DHS and the White House, and said a report tied to a January executive order on visa/travel restrictions has no set new deadline.
The State Department spokesperson declined to say whether the Alien Enemies Act was invoked to deport 17 alleged gang members to El Salvador and suggested questions on legal authority be directed to the Department of Homeland Security or the White House.
When asked "What authority was used to deport these 17 alleged gang members to El Salvador?" the spokesperson said, "I'm not going to be speaking on any of that aspect. I'm, that of course is something you can also ask the White House about and DHS." The spokesperson declined to provide a legal opinion on whether federal court orders were implicated.
Reporters also pressed the department about a separate executive order that required agencies to submit visa and travel restriction recommendations. The spokesperson said the original target date no longer applies and "there was no deadline in that regard," adding that the State Department and other departments are "working on what the executive order asked for" but that no new date had been set.
Questions about outside groups providing lists of names to U.S. authorities also arose. The spokesperson said the State Department would not confirm or discuss the details of whether particular organizations were providing lists or how consular offices make individual visa decisions, describing those processes as internal and not for public discussion.
