Judge Blocks Trump’s Use of Wartime Deportation Law/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A federal judge in Texas has permanently blocked the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelans under the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century wartime law. The administration had invoked the statute to bypass court proceedings for alleged gang members. The ruling marks the first formal judicial rejection of Trump’s controversial use of the law.
Judge Blocks Trump’s Use of Wartime Deportation Law: Quick Looks
- U.S. District Judge issues injunction halting Venezuelan deportations from South Texas
- Ruling says Trump misused the 1798 Alien Enemies Act
- Case stems from Trump’s March proclamation targeting Tren de Aragua gang
- Judge says president’s powers under AEA are limited by statute
- Administration tried to deport Venezuelans to El Salvador without hearings
- This marks the first formal ruling blocking AEA use under Trump
- Law previously invoked during WWII to intern Japanese-Americans
- Deportation effort triggered wave of legal challenges nationwide
Deep Look: Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Wartime Law Deportations of Venezuelans in Landmark Ruling
SOUTH TEXAS — A federal judge on Thursday barred the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelans from South Texas under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) — a rarely used law dating back to 1798. The ruling delivers a major legal blow to the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics and represents the first permanent judicial rejection of the law’s application to alleged gang members.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. issued a formal injunction, ruling that President Donald Trump’s March proclamation, which cited the AEA to deport individuals associated with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, exceeded the limits of the law.
“The President’s invocation of the AEA through the Proclamation exceeds the scope of the statute and is contrary to the plain, ordinary meaning of the statute’s terms,” Rodriguez wrote.
A Wartime Law Revived
The Alien Enemies Act, originally enacted in 1798, has only been invoked three times in U.S. history — most recently during World War II to justify the internment of Japanese-Americans. Trump’s administration attempted to revive the law as a tool for rapid deportation of immigrants suspected of gang affiliations, without judicial oversight.
Trump’s March executive proclamation labeled Tren de Aragua a foreign threat and granted immigration officials authority to remove suspected members without standard immigration hearings.
The administration planned to deport Venezuelan detainees to a controversial prison in El Salvador, a move that ignited immediate legal challenges and concerns over due process.
Court Pushes Back on Executive Overreach
While the court acknowledged the executive branch’s authority to deport non-citizens who commit crimes, Rodriguez’s ruling clarified that the president cannot sidestep established legal processes by unilaterally invoking the AEA.
“Neither the Court nor the parties question that the Executive Branch can direct the detention and removal of aliens who engage in criminal activity,” Rodriguez noted. “However, this does not permit arbitrary enforcement through archaic, wartime statutes.”
Legal experts say the decision may set a precedent that limits the administration’s ability to exploit rarely used laws for immigration enforcement.
Trump’s Immigration Strategy Faces Legal Hurdles
The ruling is part of a growing wave of court decisions challenging Trump’s immigration agenda, which has emphasized swift removal of undocumented immigrants through emergency powers and executive action.
The Venezuelan deportation campaign prompted litigation in multiple jurisdictions and reignited debates about the limits of presidential power in immigration matters. Critics argue the administration’s use of the AEA violated constitutional protections, especially in cases where individuals were denied hearings and legal counsel.
What Comes Next
Thursday’s decision permanently bars the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans from South Texas and could impact similar deportation attempts elsewhere. While the Trump administration may appeal, the ruling adds momentum to ongoing efforts to legally constrain executive authority over immigration enforcement.
With dozens of deportation orders and emergency proclamations still pending in court, this decision marks a critical juncture in the legal battle over immigration policy.
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