A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump from enforcing a 227-year-old wartime statute to carry out mass deportations of Venezuelans.
Trump had issued a proclamation on Saturday labeling immigrants linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang as engaging in “irregular warfare” against the United States. He announced plans to expel them using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
However, later that evening, US District Judge James Boasberg intervened, issuing a 14-day pause on deportations under the order, as reported by media outlets. The Washington Post noted Judge Boasberg even directed planes carrying deportees to return.
The Alien Enemies Act grants the US government wartime powers to detain and expel individuals posing security threats without due process. Its last major use was during WWII to intern Japanese Americans.
Trump’s statement accused Tren de Aragua of staging an “invasion” against the US—rhetoric he had echoed during his campaign promises to tighten immigration controls.
Rights organizations, including the ACLU, swiftly filed lawsuits contesting the move, arguing the law has historically been used only after formal declarations of war, which Congress alone can issue.
During the hearing, Boasberg remarked that terms like “invasion” typically apply to hostile actions by foreign governments, casting doubt on Trump’s legal justification.
Critics argue Trump’s approach sidesteps established immigration procedures, allowing broad deportations without proving gang affiliation, raising concerns of targeting Venezuelans based solely on nationality.
The legal battle may escalate to the Supreme Court.
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Trump Revives Alien Enemies Act for Mass Deportations After Decades
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