A federal judge in Texas has challenged President Donald Trump's unprecedented use of an 18th-century wartime law to deport Venezuelan immigrants.
According to The Independent, Texas District Judge Fernando Rodriguez, a Trump appointee, ruled that the administration's deployment of the Alien Enemies Act to summarily deport Venezuelan immigrants accused of gang membership exceeds the law's scope and contradicts its original intent.
The ruling specifically targets the administration's attempts to remove alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang, declaring that the government lacks proper authority under the Act to detain, transfer, or deport Venezuelan nationals based solely on Trump's proclamation.
Judge Rodriguez's 36-page ruling emphasized that the government failed to demonstrate evidence of an organized armed group entering the United States under Venezuela's direction with intentions to conquer or control any portion of the nation.
The preliminary injunction marks a significant setback for Trump's mass deportation operation, which has already resulted in the removal of 137 Venezuelans to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center on March 15.
ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt, who serves as lead counsel in the case, stated:
The court ruled the president can't unilaterally declare an invasion of the United States and invoke a wartime authority during peacetime. Congress never meant for this 18th-century wartime law to be used this way. This is a critically important decision that prevents more people from being sent to the notorious CECOT prison.
The case is expected to move through multiple courts, with any appeal heading to the conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana before potentially reaching the Supreme Court.
Court documents reveal that many deportees had no criminal records, and some even held legal permission to stay in the country with pending asylum hearings.
The Supreme Court previously intervened on April 7, lifting a temporary block on the president's use of the wartime law while maintaining that immigrants must receive notice and opportunity to challenge their removal.
The ruling applies specifically to Rodriguez's district but could influence similar cases challenging the Alien Enemies Act's application in other states.
The administration's proclamation, issued last month, targeted Venezuelan citizens aged 14 and older who were identified as Tren de Aragua members and weren't naturalized or lawful permanent residents.
Judge Rodriguez specifically noted that the historical context of the Act limits its application to actual wartime scenarios or genuine invasions, neither of which applies to the current situation.
The Trump administration's attempt to utilize the Alien Enemies Act for Venezuelan deportations has encountered a significant legal obstacle through Judge Rodriguez's ruling in Texas. The decision specifically challenges the president's authority to declare an invasion and invoke wartime powers during peacetime, particularly affecting Venezuelan immigrants accused of gang membership. As the case progresses through the appeals process, from the Fifth Circuit Court to potentially the Supreme Court, it will continue to impact ongoing deportation efforts while establishing important precedents for immigration enforcement powers.
