A federal judge has temporarily halted President Donald Trump\u2019s attempt to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite deportations of alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The ruling challenges the administration\u2019s use of a rarely applied wartime law to justify rapid removals without due process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The decision comes after Trump declared the gang\u2019s activities constituted an “invasion” and a threat to national security. However, Judge James Boasberg ruled that the law applies only in cases of armed conflict between nations, casting doubt on the legal basis of the president\u2019s order. The White House has since filed an appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump\u2019s decision to invoke the Alien Enemies Act, a law first enacted in 1798, marks a rare attempt to use wartime powers in an immigration context. The statute, historically applied during World War II to justify internment, grants the president authority to detain and deport nationals of enemy nations during times of war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The White House issued the proclamation targeting Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal organisation accused of involvement in kidnapping, extortion, and organised crime. According to the administration, gang members are “conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The order applied to Venezuelan nationals aged 14 and older found to be affiliated with the group and present in the US without lawful status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, legal experts have raised concerns about the justification for applying the Alien Enemies Act outside of a wartime setting. Immigration lawyer William Vasquez<\/a> stated on social media that “this is the first time the act has been applied against migrants from a country with which the US is not at war.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Within hours of Trump<\/a>\u2019s proclamation, Judge James Boasberg issued a 14-day temporary restraining order, preventing deportations under the directive.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n