More than 250 alleged gang members, many of whom were Venezuelans, were deported from the United States and flew to a prison in El Salvador by the Trump administration on March 15. PHILIP HOLSINGER photoperiodist documented his arrival, telling ABC News about capturing the images For Time magazine.
“I don’t think they are ready for what they saw,” said Holsinger. “It is an important military operation in which the military already for security purposes is gathered and the aircraft surrounds them. And to put these types, about 22 buses are needed so that this number of people transport them to their supermax prison.”
The photojournalist Philip Holsinger documented more than 250 alleged gang members, many of whom were Venezuelans, after arriving at El Salvador after being deported by the United States by the Trump administration, on March 15, 2025.
Philip Holsinger
The Administration acknowledged that many of the detainees have no criminal record in the United States, and the lawyers of at least five of them filed statements that indicated that they have never been gang members.
Holsinger said Monday that he was hit by the appearances of the detainees, after having seen “hardened criminals” during prison transfers.
The photojournalist Philip Holsinger documented more than 250 alleged gang members, many of whom were Venezuelans, after arriving at El Salvador after being deported by the United States by the Trump administration, on March 15, 2025.
Philip Holsinger
“At the end of the night, there was no one to be challenging,” he said “I mean, the entire intake process is so aggressive, for security reasons, you know, the security forces will tell you, but it is still very forceful.”
According to Holsinger, the detainees arrived in the Central American nation on commercial charter flights instead of military aircraft, so there was no way to chain anyone to a seat.
“They are chained in A, you know, a typical ankles, dolls and then connected by a chain,” said Holsinger. “And you know, they are protected by special national security operations on the plane.”
The photojournalist Philip Holsinger documented more than 250 alleged gang members, many of whom were Venezuelans, after arriving at El Salvador after being deported by the United States by the Trump administration, on March 15, 2025.
Philip Holsinger
On Monday, the Circuit Judge of the USA. UU. Patricia Millett, of the Circuit of the Columbia district, criticized the use of the enemy enemies law by the Trump administration to deport men without due process.
The photojournalist Philip Holsinger documented more than 250 alleged gang members, many of whom were Venezuelans, after arriving at El Salvador after being deported by the United States by the Trump administration, on March 15, 2025.
Philip Holsinger
“The Nazis obtained a better treatment under the Enemy Alien Law,” Millett said during a judicial hearing. “People were not given notice. They were not told where they were going. Those people in those plans that Saturday did not have the opportunity to present habeas [corpus] or any type of action to challenge elimination. “
The lawyer of the Department of Justice, Drew Ensign, argued that President Donald Trump was exercising central presidential powers by deporting Venezuelans whom the administration accused of being members of violent gangs without providing evidence.
The administration also criticized the American district judge James Boasberg for trying to reverse deportation flights, claiming that he exceeded his authority.
