The Trump administration has deported 17 more alleged gang members to El Salvador, the US state department has said, despite legal battles over removing people to the Central American country's supermax prison. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the group included members of the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs.

The government has deported hundreds of migrants over alleged gang ties, but their families claim their loved ones are innocent and lack due process.

The Trump administration says it has deported 17 more “violent criminals” from the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs to El Salvador, as it doubles down on a policy of removing people from the U.S. to third countries despite criticism over lack of transparency and human rights protections.