 to detain or deport Venezuelans in the Southern District of Texas.){kind=link}
Ruling Declares Use of Wartime Law Unlawful
A federal judge in Texas has permanently blocked the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) to detain or deport Venezuelans in the Southern District of Texas. U.S. District Judge Fernandez Rodriguez, a Trump appointee, ruled that the March 15 invocation of the AEA “exceeds the scope” of the law and is therefore unlawful.
What the Alien Enemies Act Is—And Isn’t
The Alien Enemies Act, a centuries-old wartime statute, allows the president to deport noncitizens during an invasion or predatory incursion by a foreign power. Trump used it to justify the removal of Venezuelans allegedly linked to Tren de Aragua, a violent gang he labeled a “hybrid criminal state” invading the U.S.
However, Judge Rodriguez concluded that Trump failed to demonstrate that Tren de Aragua’s actions met the legal definition of an “invasion.” He noted that the proclamation lacked any evidence of an organized, armed effort directed by Venezuela.
Quote from the Ruling
“The President cannot summarily declare that a foreign nation or government has perpetrated an invasion, then identify alien enemies for removal,” Rodriguez wrote. He emphasized that courts must retain the authority to interpret the scope of such statutes.
Legal and Political Context
The ruling comes amid a broader legal fight over Trump’s attempt to deport two planeloads of alleged migrant gang members to El Salvador under a $6 million agreement with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. ICE admitted many deportees had no U.S. criminal records, though officials claimed they were still national security threats.
Impact of the Ruling
While other courts have issued temporary blocks on AEA-based deportations, Judge Rodriguez’s decision is the first to rule directly on the law’s validity. The order does not prevent the government from pursuing deportation under other laws, such as the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Next Steps
Though the Supreme Court has allowed some AEA-based deportations to continue, it also mandated due process rights for detainees. Legal challenges to the Trump administration’s immigration actions remain ongoing.
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