Venezuela’s leader has described the deportation of more than 200 migrants sent by the United States to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador as a “kidnapping,” and denied they are criminals while backing calls for their return.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg is moving closer to contempt of court proceedings over Saturday's deportation flights.

A Colombian-Venezuelan migrant deported from the U.S. over the weekend and being held in a high-security prison in El Salvador has no criminal record or ties to a Venezuelan gang and his rights are being violated,